As harvest gets underway across Illinois, National Farm Safety and Health Week is a timely reminder for both farmers and drivers to use extra caution and keep safety in mind.
Recognized since 1944, National Farm Safety and Health Week runs from September 21 through 25 this year. The theme, “Safety Today, Success Tomorrow,” highlights many of the risks that come with working in agriculture, including equipment and roadway safety, health and wellness, cancer prevention, and confined spaces.
Harvest is an especially busy time for farmers in our area. Long hours in the fields also mean more tractors, combines, and other slow-moving equipment traveling along rural roads. I encourage drivers to be patient when they come across farm equipment, leave plenty of space, and wait until it is safe before attempting to pass.
Safety is just as important on the farm. Working long days around heavy machinery, grain bins, and other potentially dangerous areas requires extra attention, particularly as fatigue begins to set in.
As farmers across our region head into harvest, I hope everyone will take a little extra time to look out for themselves and those around them.
More information and farm safety resources are available through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.
