Fall Prevention for the Orchard, Farm & Ranch

Preventing falls in agriculture may have the greatest impact in employee safety.  The National Safety Council’s Agriculture Division (NSCAD) identifies falls as the most common type of accident in the agricultural industry.   Preventing injury helps keeps the cost of operations lower.  Here are the recommendations of the NSCAD:

• Keep walkways and paths clear of obstacles
• Ensure stairways have handrails and walk surfaces clear of snow and ice
• Make sure employees know, understand and demonstrate correct and safe ladder use
• Keep work areas clear to avoid accidental trips and falls
• Ensure employees wear appropriate footwear (nonskid soles with adequate tread)
• Provide adequate lighting
• Inspect ladders regularly and replace or repair those that are faulty.                                   

( www.necasag.org)

Adverse Weather Can Cause Agricultural Falls 

Working in unsafe weather conditions should be avoided.  When it is very windy, ladder use should be halted.  The same is true of work during lightening storms.

Use Common Sense 

Any condition in which balance or judgment is impaired is the time to stop working with ladders or at heights.  Working at heights or on ladders when extremely ill, fatigued, or while using medications known to affect clear thinking and balance should be avoided.  Finally, if you or an employee has an acutely injured or unstable knee or ankle, climbing ladders can be very hazardous.  Unstable leg joints can buckle, causing loss of balance and result in a fall, “adding insult to injury.”