National Farm Safety and Health Week: Safety today, success tomorrow
By prioritizing safety and health, you protect yourself and those around you, reduce downtime, and ensure your operation runs smoothly.
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As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, there’s one thing Ohioans can count on: the weather will be full of surprises! No matter the weather, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation offers six tips to help prevent slips, trips and falls—one of the top causes of workplace injuries.
Did you know the No. 1 cause of slips, trips, and falls is wet or slippery surfaces? That makes winter a crucial time to review your safety plan and reinforce these best practices:
Wear appropriate winter gear
When working outdoors, wear proper coats, hats, gloves and footwear that protect you from the elements, and ensure your shoes offer good traction. Remove or wipe off wet footwear before coming inside to prevent creating wet surfaces inside. A mat and signage can be used to aid in ensuring wet items don’t bring slips, trips and falls inside.
Keep it clean and tidy
Put things away when you’re done using them. If you spill something, clean it up right away. Be a team player and keep work areas clean, even if it’s not your mess. You could help prevent a serious accident!
Shine a light
Proper lighting can help illuminate potential hazards. Now is a good time to check that all indoor and outdoor lighting is working properly, especially pathway lights that guide people to and from your work environment.
Respect your ladder
When using a ladder, make sure it’s resting on a clean, dry and stable surface. Follow the directions and keep off the top steps. If you have to reach for something, move the ladder.
Stay alert to hazards
Pay attention to what’s around you. Clear the path before you walk backward. Is it icy? Take it slow and waddle like a penguin to avoid slipping.
Keep deicers handy
Store deicers, like salt, close to areas prone to water accumulation and black ice to make slip hazard abatement quick and easy.
Want more winter safety tips?
A safety consultation is a valuable service included at no additional cost with your BWC premium. Our health and safety consultants can help you identify potential hazards and develop a plan to eliminate them. Contact your local BWC service office: call 800-644-6292, or submit a request online to improve the safety of your ag business.
And don’t forget to save the date for the 2025 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, April 16-18, 2025. Attend educational sessions and receive continuing education on a variety of topics, including business strategies, emergency management, industry safety, and much more. It’s all included as part of your workers’ compensation premiums.
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has the safety resources you need
Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio, serving 257,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,600 employees and assets of approximately $22 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit bwc.ohio.gov.
Photo by Eva Bronzini, pexels.com
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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