|
|
|
Monthly
Safety Blast
Produced
by the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention
and Education
September
2019
|
|
|
|
You
probably know that Texas is the leading national producer
of cattle and calves, but did you know that the lone state state
ranks second in the nation for sheep and lamb production? In
fact, pig, sheep and goat farms are common across the
southern United States. Smaller livestock species are
frequently chosen as 4-H projects because they are easier to keep in
a suburban backyard and easier for children to handle. It's true that
hogs and sheep are considerably smaller than cattle and horses;
however, they can still harm their handlers. Common injuries include
being stepped on, kicked, pinned, charged and hit with the animal's
head. As fair season approaches, follow these safety tips to
avoid unnecessary injury. *Make sure to check out the links at
the end of the article for videos and classroom resources.*
- Always wear
closed-toed shoes. No flip flops in the barn!
- Speak and move
calmly.
- Put your phone in
your pocket and pay attention to the task at hand.
- Establish a routine
with livestock. Animals will behave more calmly if they
get into a routine.
- Keep your handling
area clean. Your momma doesn't work there.
- Speaking of
mothers...be extra careful around mothers with their
babies. It doesn't matter how long the mom has known
you. You still pose a threat to her baby and she may treat
you like an enemy.
- Animals can carry
disease. Wash your hands after handling animals and do not
eat in the animal handling area. I see you with your takis
and candy in the stall. Take it outside!
- Wear gloves to
prevent rope burn and to improve grip.
- Always have an escape
route when handling livestock. Don't back yourself into a
corner.
- Do not approach an
animal from a blind spot. Make sure the animal knows you
are there by talking softly or placing a hand on the animal.
- Livestock handling is
a team sport! Work in groups of 2 or more people to ensure
you receive help quickly in the event of an emergency.
I
bet you have heard all of this before; but it doesn't hurt to be
reminded. Small hooves can cause BIG hurt. Don't take
your work for granted. Animals of any size can be unpredictable
and dangerous. Be especially careful if you see any of these
warning signs.
- Raised or pinned ears
- Raised tail or hair
on the back
- Bared teeth
- Snorting
- Pawing at the ground
For more
great tips, check out Right from the Start-a livestock
handling video series produced by the SW Ag Center. Supplemental classroom materials are
also available for each video, including quizzes, notes pages,
outlines and PowerPoints. They are the perfect addition to your
vocational agriculture lesson plan.
We hope
all our producers, young and young-at-heart, have a successful,
injury-free season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do
you like what you're reading?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Produced by the Southwest Center for Agricultural
Health, Injury Prevention and Education. For more information,
contact us at 903-877-5998 or by email to agcenter@uthct.edu.
Copyright 2019
|
|
|
|
|
- - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.