NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

March 5, 1998

Clearing Clutter is First Step to Safe Farm Shop

Some house cleaning and organization in the farm shop can prevent injuries related to machinery repair. Many injuries involve hands and fingers, with open wounds and fractures being the most common, according to a North Dakota State University Farm Safety Specialist.

"Late winter and early spring are busy time for repairs and modifications to farm equipment," notes George Maher an agricultural safety specialist with the NDSU Extension Service. "Taking just one day to clean up and organize the farm shop can make a big difference in how safe it is. As a result, repairs during the planting season can go a lot faster and be done much safer."

He notes that many farm shops that are dark, poorly lighted buildings which have been converted from some other use. The floor is cluttered with machine parts, tools, and scraps of iron and wood. Some shops have an arc welder that will "bite" with an electrical shock when welding gloves are not worn. Welding ventilation is only provided when a breeze blows the smoke and fumes away. Tools are unorganized and scattered across the shop and many are unsafe because they're badly worn or broken. Face shields are hard to find or unuseable and bench grinders are missing their safety guards. Few electrical tools are properly grounded and some give shocks if used in damp conditions.

The Midwest Plan Service provides several booklets that are helpful in designing new shops or improving existing facilities. The booklets can be ordered through your county office of the NDSU Extension Service. Maher outlines several strategies for improving organization and safety in the farm shop.

• Make tools more accessible by adding a tool rack. One or two sheets of 1/4 inch pegboard and an assortment of hooks can quickly organize a shop and make it safer to work in. Tools can be outlined on the pegboard with a waterproof marker to help maintain organization. A portable tool rack on wheels allows workers to bring a complete and organized assortment of tools to the job.
• Make sure all electrical tools are properly grounded and insulated. Power tools that bite, even mildly, indicate an unsafe and potentially fatal condition. When purchasing tools, look for power tools insulated with non-conducting plastic cases Tools that have metal cases should be grounded with a third prong at the plug. Don't remove the third prong or circumvent it with adaptors. When it is missing or is not connected, the tool case may become part of the circuit and cause electrical shock or worse.
• Make sure shields are in place to protect you from flying particles. Grinders, drill presses, power saws and other power tools should be fully shielded and face masks should be readily available. Gambling with your vision is a poor bet, Maher notes.
• Keep nuts, bolts and other small items in parts bins rather than on the floor or workbench. Watch for bins at auctions or build your own from various small containers.
• Make sure shop wiring is safe and provides enough capacity. Many shops are wired haphazardly, with too many extensions on over-loaded fuses or circuit breakers. Several circuits are needed in the farm shop for lighting, and to serve the workbench area, wall outlets and welder. A flood light, outdoors, above the shop doors should be on a separate circuit. Valuable information on shop wiring can be found in Midwest Plan Service Booklet No. 28, "Farm Buildings Wiring Handbook."
• Provide adequate heating and ventilation. Fumes from welding are noxious and toxic and should be removed by proper ventilation. Flammable liquids and gases can be ignited by a heating unit that uses an open flame or a pilot light. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from a lack of safe venting of heating units. The "Farm Shop Plans Book," Midwest Plan Service Booklet No. 26. is a source of innovative ideas such as heating the shop with hot water flowing through pipes in the floor.
• To treat injuries promptly, a properly stocked first aid kit should be available. A first aid kit should contain septic ointments, chemical cold packs, and bandaging materials ranging from finger size up to gauze pads and tape. Scissors and tweezers, antiseptic soaps and cleansing pads and treatments for insect stings and bites should also be included. The first aid kit should be readily available at a sink with hot and cold running water.

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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629