A moment of carelessness due to being in a hurry or tired can turn a near miss into a life-changing event.
If that sounds like an exaggeration, so be it. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone who’s had an accident on a farm who said they saw it coming. Too often we think we’re quick, careful, and experienced enough to avoid becoming a statistic. But some people can’t tell us if they saw it coming.
The reality is that farming is a high-risk profession. Our farms are our workplaces, with their heavy machinery and hazards, and our homes. Because we live where we farm, and where we farm, we have a certain comfort level with handling livestock and operating huge machinery that would send panic waves through the average city dweller. Comfort can lead to complacency.
Risk can be managed through awareness, education, personal protective equipment, shielding, etc. But be honest: are you wearing gloves when you should? Are you working a few hours longer than you probably should? How many pieces of equipment in your workplace are not shielded?
We all want to be safe at all times, but when you choose a less safe route when you know it is safer, why? (Don’t worry, it’s anonymous so answer honestly)
