Agribusiness owner stays vigilant on farm safety
6:34 p.m. Sunday, September 21, 2008
Every year in the United States, about 70 children ages 14 and under die from injuries on a farm. This week is National Farm and Safety Week, and Safe Kids Kansas wants you to be aware of the dangers on the farm.
"We started our farm with a strawberry farm. We've since moved into what we call aggro-tainment," local farmer Gary Starr said.
Starr has to pay close attention to detail on his farm because he has thousands of people come out every year.
"Education is a key part here, even in my full-time job we look at it as an educational type thing," Starr said.
Between corn fields and pumpkin patches, Starr makes sure he's there when the work is done.
"I've heard and seen too many accidents the PTO shafts are scary to me, even on irrigation engines. We have shields on irrigation engine shaft, so that nobody can get into it," Starr said.
He says he makes sure his kids know all about tractors.
"Tractor driver training, when my kids were younger, they all went to a tractor safety school that the extension office put on," Starr said.
The planting and spraying of crops can be dangerous because of all the chemicals.
"I've got goggles. I've got a mask. I've got gloves. It's all done when nobody else is around," Starr said.
Working on the farm is how some are raised, but you should always look for the things that move.
"Keep your eyes open keep your ears open, always pay attention to what's moving around you," Starr said.
Machinery, motor vehicles and drowning account for more than half of all farm-related child fatalities.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)