Agricultural Safety Featured on New Channel

NOTE:  Most beginning farmers seek production and marketing information which is vital to farming success. However farm and farmer safety must also be at the top of the list for farm success.

The best agricultural safety videos are one click away on the new YouTube channel, “U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers”. The channel is a joint project of the 10 Agricultural Centers funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Extension agents/educators, agricultural science teachers, producers/owner/operators, first responders and agricultural families would all find value in the videos, says project leader Amanda Wickman, Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education (Texas). Videos can be used during job orientation, safety/health education, 4-H meetings, high school or college classes. One benefit of YouTube is that videos can be accessed from a mobile device to conduct tailgate trainings in the field.

“The channel is an inexpensive way to reach millions of people with safety and health information,” said project administrator Allison DeVries, High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (Colorado).

DeVries said that the Centers also hope to get valuable feedback on their videos through the YouTube comments. “Anyone can quickly establish an account and post a comment,” DeVries said.

“NIOSH established the Centers to protect the safety and health of more than 5.5 million full- and part-time contract and seasonal workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, as well as farm family members,” said Wickman. “Many Centers have created videos for this purpose, and we’re trying to enhance dissemination to people who can benefit most from them.”

The channel launched on November 1st with 8 educational videos. Each video has been produced and reviewed by experts in agricultural, forestry and fishing occupational hazards. More videos are being added weekly and it is expected that nearly 60 videos will be on the site by the end of the year. Viewers are encouraged to check the site regularly for new content and fresh ideas about how to stay safe while working in agriculture, forestry and fishing, said project technical administrator Aaron Yoder, Central States Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (Nebraska).

Topics include: respiratory protection, livestock safety, tractor and machinery safety, child development, emergency response, grain safety, pesticide safety, heat illness prevention, ladder safety and hearing protection.

For more information visit the website or contact Project Administrator Allison DeVries.