The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/883023
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You pay us nothing until you are paid! WE'VE EXPANDED 24 YEARS OF SERVICE • Financing Available for Homeowners • Insurance Claims NOW OFFERING Tree Replacement and Nursery Services • TREE PLANTING • TREE FERTILIZATION • TREE HEALTHCARE • VEGETATION MANAGEMENT • TREE CONSULTATION Farm mortality report released By Hans Schmitz Extension Educator Gibson County Purdue Extension The time of year is upon us for the final report on farm fatalities from 2016. Last year, the death toll was 44 in the state of Indiana. As the report highlights, this num- ber is part of a rise in farm fatali- ties over the past three years. High- lighting the numbers and the im- plications of those numbers is a so- bering but necessary glimpse into the dangers inherent in agriculture. The farm fatality summary is released each year, com- piled by the Agricultural Safety and Health Program at Purdue University. Fatality reports have been collect- ed since 1970. Since that year, 2016 was the 3rd most deadly year on Indiana record. Only 1982 and 1991 have higher numbers, with 1982 showing up in the mid-50s for number of deaths. Worthy of note, these fatalities are only documented when they occur as a direct re- sult of farm activities. Natural causes or off-farm acci- dents are not included. Since the start of record collec- tion in 1970, there has been a trend for decline in farm fatalities, thought to match up with the trend in declin- ing number of farms and fewer total farmers. In 2016, the number serves close to an outlier off the trend line, which would predict 19 deaths in 2016 rather than the 44 which occurred. To highlight the dangers of agriculture, and the way in which young and old can be affected, ages, sexes, and brief descriptions of the activity which caused the fatal- ity are listed. The youngest woman lost in 2016 was 4 years old, climbing into the grain wagon and becoming entrapped. The oldest man was 93, whose pants caught on fire while welding. Four females were killed on the farm in 2016. There are too many AT V/UT V fatalities, 5 last year. Take the 16 tractor-related fatalities, add AT V/UT V accidents, and we account for nearly half of deaths on the farm. Looking through the summary, the statistics, even the descriptions, can feel like a cold and calculated, cut and dried, read. Most years, I skim through, being sure that nothing in the county or a neighboring county shows up. A map is located in each summary, with all the counties in Indiana. Within each county are varying numbers of hearts. Each heart represents a life. From the time I be- gan working in Gibson County, 2010, I grew accustomed to seeing eight hearts. The ninth showed up in this re- port. The tenth will appear next year. The hearts are not adequate simply representing a life. Each of those hearts represent a time when a community broke down from the shock of the unexpected and stopped, to grieve and wonder. A scar would be a better symbol, represent- ing the scars on the hearts of loved ones and communi- ties affected by these deaths. Farming is a dangerous occupation, and not one to be taken lightly. Farmers, take care of yourselves, and take care of your neighbors. Ten years from now, the re- port hopefully still only has ten hearts in Gibson Coun- ty. Ten hearts too many. When the 2016 is published on- line, the report and all prior reports will be available at this website: https://engineering.purdue.edu/~agsafe- ty/IRSHC/fatalitySummary.html. To talk safety around the farm, contact Hans at the Purdue Extension – Gib- son County office via hschmitz@purdue.edu or 812-385 - 3491, ext. 103. UPCOMING DATES Saturday, October 21: Once Upon a Garden Semi- nar brought to you by the Gibson County Master Garden- ers. Taking place in the cafeteria of the Princeton Mid- dle/Intermediate School campus, the event will begin at 8:45 a.m. and feature speakers discussing everything from soil amendments to cooking with herbs. Contact Hans at 812-385 -3491, ext. 103 for more information. FARM Down on the