It’s harvest season, and to make their jobs easier and safer, the public is encouraged to look out for and be respectful of farmers and farm equipment on the roads.
Fall harvest is one of the most dangerous and stressful times of year for the local agriculture community. So, each year, the National Safety Council recognizes a week in September as National Farm Safety and Health Week.
During the week, the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) raises awareness for different aspects of health on the farm, from tractor and chemical safety, to mental and physical health.
The agriculture industry is one of the most dangerous jobs in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2019, there were 573 fatalities in the industry, which is the equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, statistics show.
In Indiana, there were 21 documented agriculture industry deaths in 2019, including three children and 16 adults older than 60, according to a report from Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program.
Tractor- and equipment-related deaths have been the most common in Indiana for the last 50 years, with overturned tractors being the most common, the report says.
Motor vehicle collisions are a common source of farm fatality and injury, and most deaths and injuries occur during harvest season. In 2019, three Hoosier farmers died and eight were injured in motor vehicle crashes, the report says.
Rural Johnson County residents will soon notice an increase in farming equipment on the roads as harvest season kicks into high gear. Drivers are asked to yield to the farm equipment, and if possible, pull over in a driveway or pull-off area to let the farmer pass.
“I call it the rule of lug nuts. If you’re facing a piece of machinery with more lug nuts than your car, you shouldn’t challenge them for the road,” said Mike Pruitt, deputy chief of the Bargersville Fire Department.
Farmers can also do their part by making sure the equipment is well lit and has reflectors so drivers have advanced warning if they meet a farmer on a rural road after dark, Pruitt said.
As a farmer and firefighter in a growing rural community, Pruitt sees both sides of the struggle. He urges both farmers and the public to be patient and look out for each other.
The 2019 Purdue report did not break down deaths in local communities, but in the last 40 years, at least nine county residents have died in farming accidents.
“Every night we sit down at the table or at a local restaurant. The food got there because of our farmers. It is very important that we work to keep our farmers safe so we don’t have an interruption in that process with a tragedy,” Pruitt said.
Grain bin, chemical safety and looking out for children during harvest are also important to note, he said. Even the most experienced farmers can find themselves in tragic situations if they overlook safety measures, as more than half of the deaths in Indiana were among farmers 60 and older.
A series of public service announcement videos on each of these topics are available at necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/.
