Monday, July 27, 2009

Land Owners, Think Safety

Part of the fun of owning property is working your land. Many landowners operate equipment such as tractors, large mowers, weedeaters, brushcutters, chainsaws, polesaws, chippers and a host of other farm implements. We use these so frequently that they become commonplace, and we can tend to relax when operating them.

As I was using a brushcutter today to trim the dam on our lake, I found myself taking a risk that I know better than to attempt. It dawned on me that I very much enjoy my feet, and should not attempt such a foolish maneuver again. This incident prompted me to remind landowners to take appropriate safety precautions when working on your land. You will enjoy your land more fully if you avoid careless injuries and maintain the function of your all of your body parts. With that in mind, here are a few common safety steps for landowners.

1. Personal Protective Equipment- Wearing simple safety gear will help protect you from the many potential injuries that occur when working on land.
a. Safety Glasses- cutting grass, weed-eating, hauling limbs, chopping or cutting trees.
b. Hearing Protection- Exposure to loud noises over time will do permanent damage to your hearing. Protect your self with mufflers or ear plugs.
c. Helmet- Falling trees exposes you to limbs dropping from overhead. Off road riding on an ATV may necessitate the use of a helmet as well.
d. Others- Gloves, chainsaw chaps, snake boots, goggles, dust mask, chemical spray mask.

2. Proper Equipment Maintenance- Following the prescribed routine maintenance program on your equipment will help ensure our safety and the proper function of all of your implements. Tightening connections, greasing bearings, inflating tires, checking fluids will all help keep your equipment and yo safe.

3. De-energize equipment before working on it. We have all met someone who tried to reach into a mower to remove some obstruction and the mower removed at least a portion of their finger. Turn off mowers or cutters before working on the blade areas. Lower hydraulic attachments completely before climbing under them so that they don't accidentally fall when you are underneath. Kill the breakers or power sources before working on electrical components.

4. Use Common Sense- Being safe is about planning and thinking ahead. Use common sense and you will be a lot more likely to enjoy your land for years to come.

2 comments:

  1. Great advice Jonathan. We all tend to overlook those simple safety percautions that we should observe. It never hurts to be reminded.

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