Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 51, DeMotte, Jasper County, 9 November 1939 — FARM TOPICS [ARTICLE]

FARM TOPICS

DEATH RATIO IS HIGH ON FARMS A.ccidentalFatalitiesOutnumb<?r Industrial Fields.

By S. H. McCRORY

Farming may not seem a hazardous occupation, but accident studies of farms and other occupational groups reveal' a higher ratio of accidental deaths on the farm than elsewhere. In a recent year, fatal accidents in agriculture numbered 4,500 compared with 2,300 in manufacturing and 2,800 in construction activities. States department of agriculture studies of farm accidents show one reason they are more serious is that the rictim is likely to be working alone. A factory worker caught in a lathe usually has a fellow’ workman nearby who can cut off the power. Byt a /farmer caught in a power of a tractor, attacked by a bull, or kicked by a horse, is likely to be alone. Farm machinery manufacturers are equipping more and more machinery with protective devices, and the safety of old models may be improved by having parts put on them. Among other causes found conducive to farm accidents are the need for haste in the rush seasons, which often means working after dark or with makeshift repairs, and occasional attempts to use “homemade” electric -Wiring. A recent study in Kansas of fatal farm accidents show’ed that on the average 29 per cent of the deaths were caused by machinery, 20 per cent by animals, 12 per cent by excessive heat, 8 pei cent by vehicles, 9 per cent from falls, 5 per cent by lightning, and 17 per cent from other causes. Most of the farm accidents could be avoided if the farmer is his own “safety inspector” in seeing that -neither he nor his employees take chances.