Study up on cold-weather farm safety tips

Winter has arrived, bringing daily cold temperatures. Farmers have outdoor tasks that need to be done regardless of the weather or temperatures. Livestock producers must feed and care for animals, and the grain farmer has to check or load stored grain. Wood may need to be cut for fuel. Prolonged exposure to cold, wet and windy conditions can be dangerous. In these conditions, farmers are at a higher risk for many injuries, such as frostbite, overexertion, muscle strain, falls or heart attack. Kent McGuire, Ohio State University Extension agricultural safety and health coordinator, recommends the following guidelines for farmers while working in winter conditions: • Wear appropriate clothing. Even a simple task may take longer than planned, so prepare for cold conditions. Remove or replace wet or damp clothing as soon as possible, including gloves. • If possible, perform work during the warmest part of the day and take frequent short breaks in a warm, dry area. • Keep travel paths free from ice and snow. Be observant to areas such as water troughs or leaking roofs/gutters that may allow water to accumulate and freeze in walking areas. • Stretch your muscles before you begin to shovel snow or remove ice. Do not overload the shovel, and take frequent breaks to stretch your back. Bend your knees and let your legs do the lifting. Avoid twisting motions, which can lead to pulled muscles. • When walking on icy or snow-covered areas, take short steps and walk at a slower pace to be able to react quickly to slips. • Keep hands out of pockets when walking to reduce the risk of falling or losing your balance while walking on ice or snow. • Use three points of contact when mounting or dismounting equipment (one hand/two feet or two hands/one foot contact). Be aware of potentially slick ground conditions when dismounting equipment. • Be aware of vision transitions when moving from outdoor to indoor environments. Wear sunglasses to reduce glare and protect your eyes from UV rays being reflected from snowy surfaces. • Remember that visibility can be reduced to near zero in the immediate area during snow removal operations such as plowing, sweeping and snow blowing. Utilize a visual reference point to stay on course and avoid any potential hazards. • Use caution with gas-powered equipment. Dangerous carbon monoxide can be generated by gas-powered equipment, as well as alternative heating sources. Use these items only in well-ventilated areas. • Watch for signs of frostbite: loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, ear lobes or nose tip. Also, watch for signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, seek a warm location, remove any wet clothing and warm the center of the body first. Get medical attention as soon as possible for both frostbite and hypothermia. Farm activities do not stop just because of the cold. However, just as the farmer takes care of their livestock during the cold, they also need to take precautions to protect themselves. This will be my last ag agent column for 2020. I will be back in January to share more agriculture and natural resource topics. Until then, on behalf of The Ohio State University Extension – Hancock County, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Lentz is Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources for the Ohio State University Extension Service in Hancock County.