ACRE Safety Thought #75

ACRE activity may involve digging a hole or excavating. Two general risks are involved. First, people must be protected from accidentally falling in. Second, people working in the excavation must be protected from cave-in or entrapment with crushing. Purdue’s REM now has an Excavation Safety Policy It can be found on the web at. http://www.purdue.edu/REM/safety/esp.html Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE

ACRE Safety Thought #74

The big concern during hot weather is heat related illness especially dehydration and heat exhaustion. Crews working at ACRE should be proactive in protecting workers by providing plentiful replacement fluids, altering schedules, and monitoring workers’ health. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #73

Because heavy items can shift, remember to firmly and snugly secure all items during transport. If you are moving equipment on a truck or trailer then it is especially important to follow the guidelines involving multiple tie-down points. Think, plan, train, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #72

A quick safety thought for summer; if you are bitten or stung by an insect and sense you are having an allergic reaction, seek medical help immediately. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought #71

A new trend in program administration is the “Impact Statement” This is also a constant risk at “Tall Corn” intersections, but does not create the good kind of impact statement. Seriously, when our corn gets tall, the visibility at the corners of fields is greatly reduced and creates blind intersections. Drivers must slow down to a near crawl in order to “nose out” and check for traffic. Never zoom through a tall corn intersection. With 135 numbered fields, ACRE has 22 miles of gravel and grass roadways with an intersection generally located at ¼ mile intervals one direction and 1/16th mile intervals the other direction. Since corn is grown in about half the fields, that is a lot of blind corners. So be cautious, slow down to a crawl, nose out carefully, and proceed through ACRE intersections with care. Think, plan, train, and work safely at ACRE. Jim

ACRE Safety Thought # 70

Remember that lightening can strike several miles ahead of or behind the actual rain. If you see lightening or hear thunder you should begin to exercise caution and initiate your safety plan for that situation. Think about it; even the soccer people suspend action for lightening in Indiana. Think, plan, and work safely at ACRE. Jim