Living in the country and working on a farm really opens a person’s eyes to the dangerous elements of rural life.  Country life seemed so exciting when we were kids.  I remember playing with toy tractors, going for car rides and shouting the names of the animals I saw.  The hazards were not apparent, but accidents happened killing and injuring both kids and adults who worked there.  Fortunately today there are encouraging statistics showing accidents are becoming less frequent.

Even small tractors are powerful enough to make a difficult job into an easy one.  Whether plowing snow, moving dirt and gravel, towing heavy loads, or providing power to all sorts of other equipment, tractors are a much needed tool around the farm.  Such power demands respect, one false move and this vehicle can cause a lot of damage.  These machines are not the toys I remember from childhood.  Maintenance is required and follows a schedule to ensure all parts are lubricated, clean, and working within tolerances.  All the fluids should show on the dipsticks.  Part of every working day on a farm is checking over equipment, making sure the small jobs are done, so they don’t evolve into bigger ones.

For kids, a farm is a wonderland of places to explore and things to do. From riding around on equipment, to climbing in hay lofts, playing with animals and walks through the bushes, there is excitement around every corner. There is pressure on parents to teach children the chores that need to be done, to show kids the ropes and that hard work is its own reward. Along with the fun comes danger.  Equipment is heavy and made of steel, which wins every battle against flesh or bone.  I hope to see a day soon when farm area schools teach equipment safety as part of their standard curriculum.  The straw piles can harbour pests which carry diseases that are readily transmitted to humans.  Along with the farm animals comes manure, which may be great fertilizer, but can also carry disease pathogens such as clostridium tetani which produces toxins that cause tetanus.  Lastly, the bush areas which may also be home to pests, can contain plant life such as poison ivy, oak, or sumac.  Being aware of these dangers may help adventurous kids explore and return home without incident.

Perhaps the habits of days gone by are fading away, as I mentioned, accidents are actually on the decline in rural Canada.  This is likely due to vigorous information campaigns run by co-operative farmers associations such as these. Manufacturers are also bearing more responsibility by building-in safety devices and affixing warning labels to their products.  Tasks that used to require a strong back for heavy lifting are being accomplished with equipment using technology that even children can learn to use.  With this great power comes the potential for expensive mistakes.  Farmers are great at telling stories who wants to hear the one about how the neighbour lost an arm to a grain auger.  Sharing experiences of accidents and near misses keeps ideas of safety in the front of peoples minds.

Eventually new safe habits will replace the old ones and the next generation of farmin’ folk will live longer, maybe long enough to enjoy the results of all the hard work!