ACRE Safety Thought #30

Each summer we always expect heat and humidity. Hazards at ACRE during the hot days of summer might include heat stress and sunstroke. Workers can refresh at the Research Building. It has 2 water fountains, an employee breakroom area, as well as, a refrigerator and cola machine. Fluids are available. Shade is available during breaks at the picnic table area. Many employees have their own water jugs to provide fluids as needed. Consider freezing water bottles about 3/4 full and finish filling with water so they last until the next break. A hat with a wide brim would help too. A supervisor might think about providing a 5 gallon water jug and paper cups if a big crew is involved. Get ice from the campus machine or at a service station on the way out. There is no reason to work until you are sick but there is no reason for a healthy adult to not work in this weather with available fluids and a few cool down breaks. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE

ACRE Safety Thought #29

If an accident does happen at the ACRE resulting in injury then certain decisions and actions must follow. If the injury is life threatening or serious then activate the “911” system. It is critical to know the farm address of “4540 US Hwy 52 West, West Lafayette, IN.” Also it will be beneficial to know that you are in “Wabash Township”, since the first responders will be from this local volunteer department. Since the farm is a very big place it will be important to communicate exactly where the injured person is. Appropriate first aid may be required until emergency responders arrive. Other less serious injuries can be treated through approved medical providers. The Purdue PUSH facility no longer treats employee injuries, but many options still exist for treatment and vary by time of day. All work related injuries must be reported to a supervisor and a “First Report of Injury” form must be completed. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #28

When the corn gets tall enough that visibility at field corners is reduced, it is critical to slow down or stop as needed at field intersections with low visibility. Driving habits must be altered during the summer growing season. Please remind all drivers of this hazard and the need to adjust driving procedures. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #27

Hazards at ACRE include plot threshers and sample choppers. These implements many include hazards from Power-Take-Off shafts, engines, motors, belts, and pulleys. Additionally the open throat where material is fed into the device presents another hazard. All shielding and guards must be in place. Avoid loose clothing that might get caught in the equipment. Avoid sticking a hand or foot into the feeder throat to push plant material through. Operate safely by using the owners manual and get training before starting. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #26

I think air conditioning has made us all a little more sensitive to heat stress. Hazards at ACRE during the summer include heat stress and sunstroke, so be aware of working conditions. At ACRE we have 2 water fountains in the Research Building’s employee breakroom area, as well as, a refrigerator and cola machine. Fluids are available. Shade is available during breaks. My employees have their own water jugs to provide fluids as needed. I personally freeze water bottles about 3/4 full and finish filling with water so they last until the next break. A hat with a wide brim would help too. A supervisor might think about providing a water cooler and paper cups. Get ice from the campus machine or at a service station on the way out. There is no reason to work until you are sick but there is no reason for a healthy adult to not work in hot Indiana weather with available fluids and a few cool down breaks. Does anyone remember the 105 degree heat during the summer of 1988? Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #25

One thing about putting safety first in your work environment is having a good attitude about safety. Remember “You don’t know when you were too safe, but you know when you weren’t safe enough. It is an injury caused by a accident.” Put safety first. Think, plan, train, and work safely at ACRE

ACRE Safety Thought #24

Encounters with nature are really part of ACRE’s mission. But when one unexpectedly meets up with a skunk, fox, coyote, fawn, or many other wildlife possibilities in fields, plots, or barns at ACRE the results may not be what we want. The hazard to humans could include a sudden scare, an animal bite, or a mauling. The situation is more threatening when a mother animal and off spring are involved. Be especially careful in these situations and always leave the little ones alone. Animal transmitted diseases are also a possible hazard. First remember we share the landscape with these animals and we should expect to see them. Stay calm and back off to avoid a confrontation. In most situations the animal will want to avoid you too. Decide how you are going to proceed with your work and if the animal leaves the area. We can get advice or help on individual situations from Purdue’s Animal Control group. Remember to think, plan, train, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #23

With 35 buildings and barns at the ACRE, cleaning is a challenge. During the summer many projects decide to clean up their assigned space in barns or bins. If chemical or biological hazards are present, then extra precautions must be used. Since regular cleaning many be neglected or deferred to the summer, the amount of dirt, dust, and build-up may increase exposure load. Barn dust and grain dust can present special hazards due to molds, toxins, or the hanta virus, especially if it is a rodent contaminated area. Ventilation, bleach solution sprays, and personal protective equipment are all recommended when cleaning these dirty areas. You might not want to use a “shop vacuum” in these areas since the vacuum may actually pass infected particles into the air more than simple sweeping and mopping. If farm chemicals are found during clean-up they must be handled and disposed of properly. Don’t hesitate to ask REM for advice and safe procedures for cleaning these areas. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE.

ACRE Safety Thought #22

Farm implements are a vital part of growing crops at ACRE. Crushing injury can be a hazard when working under an implement that has been lifted for service, repair, or adjustment. The sudden release of hydraulics, springs, chains, or other lifting mechanisms of the implement must be avoided when working under the potential hazard. Safety stops or chocking devices must be in place to hold back a sudden release of the lifted implement every time you or your employees work under an implement or other similar hazard. Cement blocks are not acceptable chocking devices. In certain instances “Tag-out/lock-out” regulations will dictate the safety protocol. Remember; think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #21

Working outside at ACRE during the summer may expose some employees to heat stress that they are not used too, especially if they are accustomed to indoor air conditioning. You and your employees can reduce this risk on particularly hot days when working outdoors at ACRE. Protection can include drinking plenty of fluids, shading with a wide brim hat, scheduled breaks, added breaks during extremely hot or humid days, and observation of one another’s body stress signs. ACRE provides a 24 hour employee break area in the Research Building, Restrooms, water fountains, refrigerator, and cola machine are all available. For added safety the emergency telephone is available 24/7 in the Research Building for 911 calls. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #20

Agriculture presents many weather and time sensitive procedures and tasks. Even though you are feeling stressed and want to get a lot done before a rain starts, take a deep breath, rethink the steps of your tasks, and BE SAFE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #19

I would like to provide a primer for your “Project Specific” Safety plan. Start by thinking about the protocols and processes involved to conduct your research at ACRE. Then mentally visualize the procedures. Now jot down the hazards. Next organize it into a simple outline. At least at this point you are ready to discuss safety with every person involved in your project, especially the new person that shows up on your busiest day. A simple example might be; Weed string trimmer; protect eyes, ears, toes, long pants; fuel warning Roto-tiller; Fuel warning, safe starting, protect toes, avoid hand injuries while tillers are turning Threshing single plants; moving parts hazard, do not stick fingers or hands inside threshing throat; disconnect electric power before unplugging material jams Dehydration and sunburn Field plot equipment guidelines Transportation; never ride in the back of a pick-up; obey posted signs, watch for others esp. farm equipment Electrical hazards; Pesticides; PTO (Power Take-off) dangers I hope this helps you get started. Remember think, plan, and work safely at ACRE.

ACRE Safety Thought #18

Powered equipment at the ACRE may operate on a gasoline or diesel fuel engine. Safety around the fill tanks is critical. Turn off the piece of equipment to be filled. As with all flammables, you must keep fire and flames away. Carefully open the gas cap on hot equipment as vapor pressure may have built up in the tank and a fuel eruption might occur. These days gas or fuel fill caps should be vented to prevent the build up of pressure. If there is a chance of spilling gasoline on a hot engine or exhaust pipe you should let it cool before beginning the filling process. You might be surprised at the number of people who don’t know the difference between a gasoline verses a diesel engine. Using the proper fuel in the engine is very important. Stay with the machine during the filling process and monitor it. Even though the fill nozzle has an automatic shut off, do not wander off or become distracted. Accidental spills do happen and should be mitigated and properly cleaned up immediately. Remember to replace the cap on the equipment and return the fill nozzle to its docking saddle. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE.

ACRE Safety Thought #17

Sunburn and exposure to harmful UV radiation are potential outdoor problems. You and your employees can reduce this risk when working outdoors at the ACRE. Protection can include sunscreen lotion, wide brim hats, and long sleeve shirts. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #16

You know that driving safely on the ACRE is a recurring theme of mine. It will also be a recurring theme in the “ACRE Safety Thoughts” too. Driving carefully starts with reducing speed up and down the main lane, especially with Beck building activities added to our farm. Driving carefully around the building area and especially by the Research Building near the stop sign is a key area too. Being mindful of others is critical. Please remind staff at the beginning of this field research season to drive carefully at ACRE. Thanks Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #15

Pesticides are used regularly at the ACRE. To reduce our pesticide risks the Crop Protection Laboratory, CPL, was built at the ACRE in 1989. It is meant for the safe storage, handling, measuring, and mixing of pesticides. All pesticides should be stored in the building, not in barns, trucks, or offices. The departments of Agronomy, Entomology, and Botany and Plant Pathology each have individual laboratories with separate storage areas. Every individual using the building must be trained in building procedures and safety requirements. If you plan to use pesticides then plan to use the CPL and schedule your CPL training. Remember, think, plan, and work safely at ACRE.

ACRE Safety Thought. #14

I want to follow through on safety planning as presented in my earlier post. Researchers need to think about and prepare a “Project Specific Safety Plan” for your work at the ACRE. Do you have special hazards that should be addressed? Like tractor operation, moving PTO shafts, powered moving belts or pulleys, stationary threshers, driving on the farm and to and from campus, etc. Please identify hazards and train your people to work safely. A simple outline of your “Project Specific” safety points is an important start. If you use your word processing program even digital pictures can be added to the outline to help identify the hazards. The “General Farm Safety” training program conducted at Throckmorton-PAC is good to attend too. So think, plan, train, and work safely at ACRE. Thanks Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #13

Digging or using the probe truck at ACRE could be an “electrifying” experience. It is terribly unsafe to dig or probe the ground without knowing where underground utilities are buried at ACRE. Especially dangerous are the 3 buried high voltage underground power lines. At 7,200 volts the consequences of digging into any of the nearly 2 miles of underground lines could be disastrous. Do you and your employees know where they are? One runs from the west woods to the north side of the Beck building along field 5. Another runs from the S-curve on 500West to the weather station along the south side of fields 41, 51, and 52. The last line runs from the Welsh house, 4718 W 500N, to the Water Quality Field Station along the lane by field 105 and 106 then up the lane by 106, 107, 108, 110, and between 111, then across the earthen bridge and then along the west ends of fields 115, 116, 117, & 118. It crosses under the ditch and goes along the south side of the WQFS to the pad mount transformer. Additionally many other buried utilities are located at ACRE. So before you dig or use the probe truck locate utilities as required by Indiana State Law. Plan, think, and work safely at ACRE Thanks Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #12

Always be aware of the weather at ACRE. Our biggest concern is lightening and our second concern is the chance of a tornado. When we are in the field working, we all want to get the job done but for safety’s sake remember the lightening rules. Also, it can strike far ahead of the actual rain. So if you see it or hear thunder leave the openness of the field and head to the farm buildings or go back to campus. Avoid the area around the transmission lines from field 81 to the WQFS. Also do not get caught out on the farm with severe weather and the chance of a tornado. Return to a safe location ahead of the danger. As a last resort go to a ditch and hide. Make sure your employees know when to exercise good judgment in the field and can leave the field for safety. Our advantage at ACRE is the wide open spaces of the ACRE which should give everyone an early visual warning if you notice the approaching clouds. Think, plan, and practice safety at ACRE. Thanks Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #11

Handling treated seed or even treating seed packets with fungicide or insecticide or safener can expose workers to chemical exposure. Workers doing this need WPS training at a minimum and must be under the supervision of someone with a certified pesticide applicator’s license. Exposure can come from skin touching the treated seed or the chemical. Or exposure can come from inhalation. Depending on the procedure and the pesticide label certain Personal Protective Equipment safeguards need to be used. These PPE may include protective gloves, protective eye shields, or even a cartridge respirator. REM regularly provides our workers with WPS training. It is scheduled through the Agronomy Main Office. Certified Pesticide Applicator training comes from the Pesticide Office in Botany with testing and certification from the Indiana State Chemist’s Office in Biochemistry. Remember that every field worker at ACRE or the PACs is required to have the WPS training at a minimum. Think, plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #10

Since 1999 the people using the ACRE forklift have been required to be trained and certified in its safe operation. Purdue's REM runs our training and certification. No one should be operating this forklift without that training. Re-certification is conducted for the current group of 12 certified operators. A new class will be taught for 1st time users of the fork lift soon. If you or one of your staff need training for the ACRE forklift, please let me know. Think, plan, train, and work safely at ACRE. Thanks Jim Beaty

ACRE Safety Thought #09

As simple as it may sound, transporting your employees around the ACRE can be a safety issue. Riders on a tractor are not permitted unless the tractor has an enclosed cab and buddy seat. Employees are not to ride in the back of a pick-up or on the tailgate. Drivers need Purdue driver certification. The utility carts like the Gators, Mules, etc. should only have riders on the appropriate seats and not in the utility bed. Some combines, like some tractors, have a cab with a passenger seat and riders are acceptable there. So as part of your Project Specific Safety Training Outline, please note how your project supervisor expects to move your employees safely. Plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #08

Hitching up equipment to a tractor or a trailer to a truck are jobs sometimes conducted at ACRE. The driver must protect the individual helping with the connection. Visibility, slow controlled speed, and communication, either verbal or signaled, are critical. At the moment of connection the driver should have the device in park with a foot on the brake. Points to remember; Tongue hitches must always go to the drawbar, 3-point hitches should be with the correct category pins and locked in, and trailer hitches must have the correct size ball and coupler with two safety chains secured. Also remember that the pulling device must have the capacity to control and safely stop the pulled implement or trailer. If your project does any of this, then that job should be listed in your “Project Specific Safety Checklist.” Your employees must be trained to work safely when hitching equipment or trailers and driving them in the field or down the road. Plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #07

Protecting fingers, hands, and arms from pinch points or entanglement in threshers, shellers, or shredders is important when working at ACRE. Seed collection, cleaning, and packaging are jobs that often require a motorized piece of equipment. Feeding plant material into the open throat of a device requires training and a safe operating procedure to reduce the risk of pinching or entanglement. If your project does any of this, then that job should be listed in your “Project Specific Safety Checklist.” Your employees must be trained to work safely around this type of equipment. Plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #06

The ACRE has a Wood Shop with power equipment that many employees use. Items built in the Wood Shop have aided many projects at ACRE. However, before anyone uses any piece of equipment in the Wood Shop it is important that they be trained to use that shop tool safely. Additionally eye protection is a required necessity when using power shop tools. If you ask employees to use shop tools then add that to the list of items to discuss on your Project Specific Safety Training outline. Plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #05

A Power Take-off Shaft or PTO is the mechanical device that transfers power from a tractor to an implement with a rotating shaft. If you use a tractor with a PTO, it is critical that you and all of your personnel understand the danger of PTO entanglement. The shaft spins at either 540 or 1000 rounds per minute and can entangle loose clothing rather rapidly. Once clothing becomes entangled, then the human body can rapidly be caught and death or serious injury will follow. For safety all PTO shafts are required to be shielded as a preliminary precaution. For safety sakes it is critical to avoid contact with a rotating PTO. Never step over a shaft as a short cut, so please walk around. Never wear loose clothing near a PTO shaft. Be trained on the identification of a PTO shaft and practice safety. Plan, train, and work safe at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #04

To avoid a tragic accident we are focused on the way we transport visitors and employees around the farm. We have new “commercial” people movers for field day and tour groups. We shall never move people, employees or visitors, in the back of pick-ups or on the tailgates. We must develop this attitude of safety and hauling people around in a safe manner is a top priority. “We” means you, me, and all of us. Plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim (revised from an article first published January 30, 2009 in the Purdue Agronomy Weekly Newsletter.)

ACRE Safety Thought #03

I’ve talked about safety as an “attitude” as much as a “set of rules.” I’ve talked about outlining a list of safety hazards to identify for each specific research project and giving employees “project specific safety training.” Now I’d like for you to think about following through on safety education with “informed supervision.” Make sure the first time you send someone to the farm (or your lab on campus) that they have an “informed employee” show them potential risks and train them on a procedure to work safely. The training employee needs to assure that the new employee does in fact recognize the hazard and understands how to work safely. Plan, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim ( The was first published in the Purdue Agronomy Weekly Newsletter in Dec 2008)

ACRE Safety Thought #02

Safety is as much an “attitude” as it is a “set of rules.” Researchers and other ACRE users should consider safety training for themselves and employees. Then practice safety. Jim Beaty’s #1 reason that you should think about safety; “I care about everyone’s life and health. You should care about yours’ and your workers too.” Jim’s #2 reason; “I don’t want to have to call or face a loved one with bad news about a death or injury. It would break my heart. You don’t either.” Plan, think, train, and work safely at the ACRE. Thanks. Jim (First published in December 2008 in the weekly Purdue Agronomy Newsletter)

ACRE Safety Thought #01

A Safety Thought for ACRE Researchers. Protect yourself, your employees, and your students while working. Think about and prepare a “Project Specific Safety Plan” for your work at the ACRE. Do you have special hazards that should be addressed? Like tractor operation, moving PTO shafts, powered moving belts or pulleys, stationary threshers, etc. Please identify hazards and train your people to work safely. Thanks, Jim Beaty (First published Dec 12, 2008 in the weekly Purdue Agronomy Newsletter)