Safety & Health Principles

• Injuries have identifiable causes that are either preventable or controllable; ever present.
• An injury incident normally comes from multiple causes.
• Risk is inherent and ever present in life.
• To be human is to error.
• Human perceptions of risk are not very accurate.
• Human behavior can be changed.
• Occupational safety & health is a function of management.

Agriculture - 1 of 3 Most Dangerous Jobs

• The U. S. Agricultural Industry is in the top 3 for Accidents, Injuries and Deaths.
• Construction & Mining other top 2.
• Both regulated by OSHA...
• Is agriculture next?

Safety Hierarchy

• Starting with the most preferred method:

• 1st - Eliminate the hazard.

• 2nd - Apply safeguarding technology.

• 3rd - Use warning signs.

• 4th - Train and instruct

• 5th - Prescribe personal protection.

Attitude

Accident or Incident - An accident is an event that cannot be prevented. Most occupational injuries, many occupational illnesses can very well be prevented.
It’s a matter of choice, of having the proper attitude toward safety.

Stay rested!??

Long hours can injure and kill, details on what and how the body reacts to fatigue.

Child Safety Starts With Assigning Age Appropriate Tasks

Back Injuries & Lifting
Did You Know...?

Low back pain is the...

• Number 1 Musculoskeletal problem
  • 8 out of 10 Americans have back pain.
• Leading cause of Worker’s Compensation
  • Accounts for 1/3 of all work injuries
  • Billions of dollars a year

Falls

Falls cause 25% of farm work injuries.

• Why?
  Jumping on & off equipment
  Riding on drawbars, tractors
  Slipping while mounting! dismounting tractors
  . . .The list goes on

Use Ladders Safely

• Be sure of footing at base of ladder.
• Set the ladder at a 4:1 ratio.
• Use the fireman’s leg lock.
• Maintain your ladder in good condition.

In An Emergency...

• Stay Calm.
• Post emergency numbers by every phone.
• Write out brief clear directions to your home, place of operation.
• Instruct everyone.

In An Emergency...

• First Aid training pays off Supplies, Training, Planning.
• Leave a trail.
  • Install a Bulletin Board in your Sugarhouse.
  • Let people know where you are.
• How close is your closest neighbor?

Can you call for help?

Phone, Cell Phone, Two-way Radio, CB Radio

Insurance - Another aspect of Safety

Are you properly insured? Do you entertain visitors in your sugarhouse?
Have you thought about the

“What Ifs...

Someone falls
Someone gets burned

Disabilities May Last a Lifetime

• While many resources are available today for people with disabilities, Prevention is always a Wise Choice.
• Choice -- something We ALL Have

Safety Considerations In The Sugarbush

Be reachable!

• All involved need to know who is where, doing what, and when in woods.
• Don’t go out alone.

Can you call for help?

Phone, Cell Phone, Two-way Radio, CB Radio.

Be Alert to Natural Hazards

• “Widow-makers”, or dead, hanging limbs.
  • Consider staying out of woods on windy days.
• Barbed wire along fence-lines.
• Holes.
• Bent-over trees/saplings.
• Deep Snow, Ice.

Dress Appropriately

• Outer Clothes.
• Boots with Grip.
• Gloves for the job to be done.
• Chaps.
• Other Appropriate Safety Equipment.

Equipment safety

• Set the right example.
• Maintain Safe Attitude.
• Back up alarms on all equipment.
• Inertia & Mass - liquid sloshes in tank and can push you due to momentum.

Operate Tractors Safely

• Trained operators.
• Handling equipment on snow, slippery roads and slopes.
• Use tractors with ROPS.
• Always use Seatbelts with ROPS.
• Keep all shields in place.
• Keep tractor maintained.
• Use a tractor with good foot brakes and parking brakes.

Trailers

• Hitches -- adequate for the job; proper size ball.
• Draw pins must be safety clipped.
• Safety Chains from trailer to tractor or horse team.
• Trailer brakes for added control.
• No standing on tongue or runners.
• Use a guard rail around tires for new sap gatherers.
  • Help keep feet out from under wheels.

Horses

• Use a well “broke” horse team.
• Teach visitors basic horse etiquette
  • not spooking or slapping horses.

Pay Attention to Caution Signs
Use ATV’s with Caution

• Helmets Save Lives. Wear Protective Equipment.
• No paved roads or alcohol!
• No Passengers! Do Not Ride Double.
• Don’t Show Off! Keep Speed Under Control.
• Take a Training Course.

Protect Your Hearing

Agricultural Hearing Loss - The Silent Epidemic.

• Many areas of excessive noise - motors, pumps, tractors, saws, etc.
• Pay attention to early warnings signs
• ringing in your ears,.. what??
• Use PPE -- muffs, plugs.

Chainsaws

• A good running saw will cause less grief & fatigue, & allow more work done in less time, safer.

Safe Practices Prevent Chainsaw Injuries

• Take a chain saw safety course - no matter how long you have used a chain saw.
• Read Owners Manual.
• Use PPE: Hardhat, Chaps, Boots, Gloves.
• Maintain Safety Equipment: Chain Brake, Throttle lock, Chain catch, Tighten all nuts & bolts.
• Use Common Sense.

Chainsaw Injuries

• Arm & Hand Area - 42% of injuries
• Leg Area - 38%
• Head Injuries - 8%
• Foot Area - 7%
• Upper Body - 5%

Think About What You’re Doing, Don’t Take Chances!

Tappers are Like Small PTO's

• “Man injured by power tapper, when he falls while walking with running tool.”
• Use caution when handling power equipment.
• Portable Electric Drills - a safer alternative.

“Don’t Get In Over Your Head!”

• Snowshoes save wear & tear on you.
• Use care on slopes.
• Deep, soft snow may increase hazards.
• Good idea to work in pairs.

Cold Injury: Frostbite

• Grayish-white frozen skin, painful.
• Bring person inside.
• Do not re-warm next to stove or fire.
• Do not rub injured part.
• If any questions, Call your Doctor.

Sugarhouse Operation

Sap Storage

• Ensure sound structural support.
• Use only containers intended for food use.
• Stainless Steel or Poly preferred.
• Locate sap storage on the north side of the sugarhouse.

Wood as your fuel

• Avoid unstable wood piles.
• If boiling in windy conditions with wood; be careful of back draft when opening fire door.

Spark Arresters

Some form of spark arrester may be advisable, especially late in the season, when most of the snow is gone.

Oil Burners Require Care & Maintenance

• Have oil burners serviced regularly.
• Do Not disable safety devices.
• Remember to un-cap the stack prior to firing up.
• Don’t keep trying to light an oil furnace after 1-2 times as fuel builds up causing an explosion potential.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.../

• From evaporators, Finishing pans, heaters.
  • Hits you before you know it.
  • Can lead to sickness or death.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives
Maybe YOURS!

• ABC Fire Extinguisher - 1st line of defense.
• Charged & Accessible.
• P.A.S.S.
  • Pull the pin.
  • Aim at base of fire.
  • Squeeze the handle.
  • Sweep from side to side.

Electrical Grounding is Critical

• Your body is very sensitive to electric current flow.
• ONLY .060 AMP will kill.
• Proper grounding eliminates ground fault hazards.
• Is your wiring up to date???

Maintain Safe Electrical Fixtures

• Safe-Moisture Proof; Covered Outlets.
• Unsafe - Open junction boxes.

Good Lighting is Important

• Covered break-proof bulbs.
  • to protect from broken glass in evaporator pan or finishing pan.
• Adequate for the job.

Floors

• Floor drains help eliminate liquids which can cause slips & falls.
• Concrete floors that are finished too smoothly can increase the fall hazard.
• However, rough floors collect heavier amounts of dust and dirt.

Railings, Barriers and Walkways

• Traffic flow in the sugarhouse during busy times can create hazards for both you and your visitors.
• Use railings, walkways, physical barriers.
• Old carpet works as good paths for visitors and over slippery or icy spots.

Heat Injury - Burns

• Time is critical.
• Cool burns quickly.
• Immerse affected part in cold water.
• Do Not apply ointments, salves.
• Cover with dry, sterile dressing.
• Contact your Doctor.

Avoid Spills

Remove handles from unused valves to stop accidental opening.
Put handles on pans, buckets, etc. for pouring sap and hot syrup to make easier and safer.

Fresh Pure Water

• A must for cleaning.
• A standard for fire-fighting.
• Consider the source: well, spring, stream.
• Be sure your water is pure and free of contaminants.

If it’s not water, it’s likely a Hazardous Material.

Are You Cleaning with a Hazardous Material?

• Read the Label.
• Follow instructions exactly!
• Buy only as much as you need.
• Use measured amount.
• Drain empty containers 30 seconds.
• Triple rinse:
  • Rinse container, drain, repeat 2 times.
• Dispose of properly. Check locally.
• Always Use Personal Protective Equipment.
• Have MSDS sheets for all hazardous materials in sugarhouse.

Protect the Ground Water

• Do not contaminate your water supply when disposing of cleaning solution or rinse water.
• Follow printed instructions and local codes.
• Your family drinks it.

Minimize Contact With Lead

• Upgrade/replace older equipment made with lead solder.
• Move to lead-free stainless steel equipment.
• Eliminate all Galvanized equipment.
• Limit contact with brass pumps or fittings.

Eliminate Sources of Mercury

• Mercury is an element and a metal.
• Excess exposure to methyl mercury can result in adverse health effects.
• The FDA is conservative in protecting the health of American consumers. As such, it has set consumption advice at the 1-ppm level.

Keeping Necessary Tools Safe

Visitor Safety

Tell schools and visitors how to dress, no nylon clothing as it melts to skin when hot.
Invite regulators and political leaders to operation to show how you do things right and safely.