Avoiding Accidents on the Farm

Northland Age, Volume IX, Issue 17, 1 December 1939, Page 2

Avoiding Accidents on the Farm

The following list of precautions, if observed by all farmers, would eliminate the causes of many accidents on the farm: Dehorn your bull, but remember that even without horns he should be treated with respect. When mowing hay put the mower out of gear before you get off. If you have to clear the knife, stand behind it to do so, not in front. Don’t lean pitchforks against the haystack, as a man may slide or jump off the stack on to one. W hen using horses always speak to them as you approach particularly if you come up behind them. If one horse has a foot over the chains, speak and pat the horse on the rump before lifting the foot. When felling bush see that the underscrubbing is done, and done thoroughly, before the larger trees are felled. Cut off all creepers and vines at ground level and also as high as you can reach, so that they won’t be swinging about to catch an axe. And if you have to chop firewood, see that you have a good solid block to chop on; and chop the wood, don’t try to break it with one end on the ground and the other on the block, as this practice tends to cause one piece to fly up and hit you very close to the eye. If you use explosives for splitting, use blasting powder, and don’t experiment with home-made mixtures. Remember that a circular saw will cut your finger just as easily as it will cut wood. All of which summed up, means: “Use your brains; that’s what they’re for.”