Farming can be a dangerous business,
especially when you're working alone.
What if you were injured and couldn't
get help when you needed it?
The outcome could be tragic. Yet this is
a risk that farmers face
every day. All too often,
the root cause of injuries sustained
when working alone
is human error – people not considering
the various
risks they face, or not taking steps
to do the job safely. Changing how we
think about working alone can help
everyone go home
safely, night after night.
There are many times during a typical
day on the farm
when you find yourself working alone.
For instance,
you could be working with livestock in
the barn,
repairing a piece of equipment in your
shop, or planting out in the field.
The keys to avoiding injury when working
alone
are to plan ahead, and stay focused
on what you're doing. Since there's
nobody around to come to your aid if
something
goes wrong, your safety is all up to you.
Carrying a fully charged cell-phone at
all times
is an obvious first step in staying safe
when you're working alone.
It's also vitally important to tell
co-workers or
family members where you'll be working,
when you'll be back, and arrange for
regular check-ins throughout the day.
That way, if you don't call in as planned
because you're pinned under equipment
or have been knocked unconscious, they
can take action to come and help you.
Here's an example of how being prepared
can keep you out of trouble.
Suppose it's a cold winter day and you
were driving home from town on a
back road.
You're about five miles away from home
when suddenly,
your truck hits a patch of ice and
slides into the ditch.
Fortunately, you were wearing your
seat belt so you weren't hurt.
And your cell-phone is fully charged,
so you can call a tow-truck.
You have everything else you need to
stay safe and warm
because you thought ahead about the
risks you might face,
and prepared accordingly.
Imagine how differently things could
have gone if you hadn't been prepared?
Whenever you're working on your own, it's
important to anticipate,
and plan for, the risks you may face,
because if an incident does occur,
there's nobody nearby to help.
And that's where Stop Think Act comes in.
Following these three simple steps will
help keep you safe
when working alone.
First, STOP. Ask yourself:
What could go wrong? Could I fall,
become trapped or injured, and not be
able to help myself?
How bad could it be? How long might I
have to wait
for someone to come along and help me?
Would they know where to find me?
Has anything changed? Has my co-worker
gone into town?
Is my cell-phone battery running low?
Is there cell-phone reception
out in the field? Second,
take a moment to THINK. Do I
understand the task? Do I know how to
properly use my equipment?
Is this a job I can safely do by myself,
or do I need to ask someone to help me?
Am I physically and mentally ready for
the job at hand?
Am I stressed around rain in the
forecast?
Am I exhausted from working into
the night?
Am I taking any medication that affects
my concentration?
Do I have the right tools and equipment?
Am I wearing the right safety gear? Are
machinery guards in place
and working properly? Do I have a
first aid kit
and a fire extinguisher?
And finally, ACT.
Make it safe. Know where the hazards are
and how to work safely around them.
Ensure you're properly trained on using
your equipment.
Read and follow the operator's manual.
Use the right tools and equipment.
Wear all the required PPE and make sure
it's in good condition.
Have a first aid kit handy and know
how to use it.
Carry a fully charged cell-phone
at all times,
and keep it turned on. Have
emergency numbers
already saved in the phone.
Always have an emergency plan in place.
Be able to explain where you're working.
Know what to do if you get injured, and
how you will get help.
If the conditions aren't right, or if you
have any doubt
whether you can complete a task safely,
STOP. Don't do it.
Consider rescheduling, or ask for help
in completing the job.
By anticipating the risks of
working alone,
and planning how to overcome those risks,
you can help ensure
that Nobody Gets Hurt.
Thanks to Dowler-Karn and Esso for
supporting the production of this video.
To learn more about working alone
and about
Stop Think Act, visit
wsps.ca/farmsafety.