Farmers are working hard to get the new crop in the ground, but it's important to do so safely.
Glen Blahey of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association reminds producers it's important to be maintaining more than just equipment — operators need to be looked after, too. Blahey says it's critical to drink plenty of water and take proper meal breaks when working in the field, but it's also important to rest.
"If you are awake for 18 hours, you do experience a level of impairment in terms of your decision-making abilities," he says. "To give it a comparison, after being awake for 18 hours, your level of intellectual impairment is about equivalent of having a .05 blood alcohol content."
He also says before farmers and workers head out to the field, it's important to understand where everyone will be located. He says it's also important to have scheduled check-ins, particularly when equipment operators are working alone.
Source : Portageonline