Training and Education
Spreading the Message
If safety starts in the home, then educating agricultural families can have a huge
impact on the community and their business. Entire families are often active in
farming, especially on smaller farms that aren't bound by federal and state OSHA
regulations. This puts more children, women and seniors at risk than in any other
industry.
AG Families USA (United for Safety in Agriculture)
This hands-on training program encourages farm families to become safety and health
advocates in their community. The annual program brings families from across the
nation together to learn about the issues that affect their lives and work. We recruit
families from the current membership of farmer-owned cooperatives, commodity groups,
and other farm organizations for an all-expense paid trip to the NECAS training
center. Families go back and share knowledge with their communities to develop safer
farming environments.
Progressive Farmer Safety Day Camps
Each year, many children are killed or injured on American farms. Farm safety day
camps, such as the three coordinated at NECAS in Peosta, IA, are being held in 35
states across the U.S. to teach rural children how to prevent injuries and reduce
the risk of incidents. During the camps, children participate in activities that
reinforce the importance of taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting
parents' safety rules, and sharing safety tips with family and friends. Hands-on
demonstrations teach lifesaving first aid techniques and reveal the hidden hazards
of farm surroundings.
Accessible Safety Kits
Because farms are often many miles away from immediate medical assistance, they
need to be prepared to handle common emergencies themselves. We have produced Farm
First Aid Kits for placement on tractors and farm equipment, in pick-up trucks,
and other farm locations.
Agricultural Rescue
This program trains EMS, fire and rescue personnel with the special skills for dealing
with hazards unique to rural environments: farm equipment and machinery, storage
structures, chemicals, and livestock. It offers in-depth training and certification
for complicated rescue situations including tractor rollovers and equipment entanglements.
