Accident-proofing
your farm is one of the most important tasks you will ever
do. It takes a lot of time, effort and planning to ensure
that family, employees and visitors will be less likely to
be injured or killed because of the safety measures practiced.
Orientate visitors on what to expect on the farm, and do not
leave visitors unsupervised.
Unfortunately,
no matter how well you and all those directly involved in
farm operations prepare, train and follow safe farm operation
procedures, the farm owner or manager always runs the risk
of unwanted visitors. There are numerous reasons, legal and
illegal, as to why people wander onto farmland. Most people
trespass for recreational or non-farming purposes such as;
hunting, fishing, swimming and picnicking; all of which usually
take place without permission of farm management. It is in
the best interest of farm management to dissuade unwanted
visitors. Unwanted visitors are a liability.
This
fact sheet will provide farm owners and managers with information
and ideas that will help management identify and eliminate
attractive nuisances and also help lessen the chance of unwanted
visitors becoming injured on your farm.
- Signs
should be posted around the perimeter of the farm, and at
all trails or roadways leading onto the property, stating
that trespassing for any reason is not permitted. The signs
will discourage persons from infiltrating farm property
without prior approval. Check with state and local authorities
regarding type of signs and proper distance between the
signs.2
- Fences
around the perimeter of the farm are ideal, but are often
cost prohibitive. If fences are present, they should be
in good repair. When wire or cable is used for a gate closure,
especially across a roadway, the wire or cable should be
clearly marked with flags, a sign or reflective markers.
- Livestock
fencing should be secure, in good repair and of adequate
type and height for the livestock it is housing. If electric
fence is in use, the fence line should be marked with warning
signs. Gates should always be closed and secured with a
chain and hook, and preferably with a padlock in areas where
pastures are not in direct sight of actively occupied buildings.
- Do
not pasture animals such as stallions or bulls in areas
that are readily accessible to the public. Stud pastures
should be visible to an employee active area of the farm
and fencing should be adequate to house such animals.
- Ponds,
wells, large stock tanks, drainage pits and lagoons should
all be fenced with locked gates to prevent entry to these
areas. If fencing of a pond or waterway is not feasible
extra effort should be made to prohibit the use of an attraction
i.e., boat or dock. If possible remove and secure all boats
out of the water. Boats left in the water should be chained
to a secure post. Access areas to docks and dams should
be fenced with a locked gate to prevent entry onto these
structures. Have rescue devices by ponds or water sources
in case of an emergency.
- Electrical
switch boxes should be locked. High voltage areas need to
be securely fenced.
- Machinery
buildings should be kept locked if possible. If a locked
storage area for machinery is not available, a special effort
must be made to ensure that keys are always removed from
the ignition, brakes are locked on and wheels blocked. Do
not invite temptation from neighborhood children by leaving
All-Terrain-Vehicles (ATVs) or similar vehicles available
for use without permission or supervision.
- Hazardous
passageways, hay drops, manure pits, etc. should be properly
fenced and maintained safely. Doors to haylofts should be
secured and not readily accessible to the public.
- Warning
or Hazardous Area signs should be posted in all areas where
a potential hazard exists such as; Loading/unloading zones,
or regions where augers or high amounts of electricity are
found.
- Chemical
storage areas should be kept locked and warning signs posted
to alert emergency crews to the fact that the area is used
to store chemicals should an incident occur. (Refer to Rutgers
Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet FS320, "Storage of Pesticides
& Their Containers, for more detailed information).
- Care
should be taken that all holes, pits and quarries be properly
filled, covered or fenced.
- Do
not leave ladders or any other climbing device in fruit
orchards or other hazardous areas that may encourage people
to climb.
- Should
you allow hunting on the farm by yourself, family, friends
or an organized gun club several precautions need to be
taken. It is important that everyone is familiar with firearm
safety and hunting rules and etiquette. Hunters should be
advised of property boundaries and the proximity of all
surrounding structures (houses, schools, barns), roadways,
riding/hiking trails and public grounds such as a park).
Hunting stands in trees should not be readily accessible
to children who may com across them and try to climb up
into the stand.
Take
the time to walk around the farm and note areas of possible
problems. By correcting these obstacles you are taking an
active part in helping to reduce the number of unwanted visitors,
injuries and law suits that can occur on your property.
- National
Safety Council/Farm Family Insurance. Your Farm Safety
Is No Accident. 1990.
- New
Jersey Statutes Annotated. Title 23-Fish and Game Laws.
1991.
Publication #: FS605
This
document is apart of
a series from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Rutgers, the
State University of New Jersey. Publication date: February,
1992.
Marjorie
R. Malinowski, Program Associate in Animal Science, and Karyn
Malinowski, Ph.D., Extension Equine Specialist, Rutgers Cooperative
Extension, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New
Brunswick, NJ 08903.
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in
NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in
NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder.
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