SUBMERGEDDROWNING HAZARDS IN

AGRICULTURE

Learning Objectives

• Identify drowning hazards on the farm

• Describe risk factors related to the hazards

• List steps to prevent a drowning

Drowning Hazards on the Farm

Can you list drowning hazards on the farm?

Drowning Hazards on the Farm

• Bodies of water– Pond/river

• Swimming/ice• Machinery operation

– Water trough

• Manure storage– Pit/lagoon– Slurry storage tank

• Grain – Bin/wagon

Youth Fatalities on U.S. Farms

• On average, 1 child dies EVERY WEEK on U.S. farms– Average 70 children die from farm related injuries

every year• 40% due to machinery

• 20% due to drowning

• Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of death to children 0-14 years old

Factors Contributing to Drowning

Bodies of Water• Lack of adult supervision• Little or no swimming instruction• No warning signs posted• Unfenced ponds• Dangers in the water

– Rocks– Deep holes– Weeds

Ice Safety• Good ice is “thick and blue”• Wear personal flotation device• Dress warmly in layers• Carry ice claws/ ice picks and know how to use them• Go with a partner• Don’t take vehicles onto ice• The only absolute safe ice is the ice you stay OFF!

Additional Hazards Around Bodies of Water

Machinery Operation• Mowing/ spraying along the bank• Animal burrows, eroded banks,• Stay off of 33.5 degree/3:1 or steeper slopes • Stay away from steep embankments

– Do not operate machinery any closer to the water’s edge than the water is deep!

• 6 ft. deep = stay 6 ft. away from embankment

• Never allow children to be passengers

Additional Hazards Around Bodies of Water

Prevention Steps for Bodies of Water

• Posting warning signs• Install fences or gates around the

pond• Never allow anyone to swim

alone• Install a rescue post

Figure. 1 Rescue Post

Factors Contributing to Drowning

Manure Storage• Steep slippery slopes• Crusting on top surface • Hazardous gases

– Most likely during agitation,

adding/removing manure to

storage area

Prevention Steps for Manure Storage

• Concrete ramp for easy escape• Safety warning signs

– “Manure drowning hazard”

• Fencing/gates – Chain link provides best protection – Accessible life lines near the pit

• Never work alone

Factors Contributing to Drowning

Grain• Flowing grain acts like

quicksand• Depending on the flow rate,

<4 seconds to become helpless in grain

• Can happen in bins, wagons, transport vehicles

Prevention Steps for Grain

• Lock all access doors when not in use• Secure ladders and doors to prevent

entry, especially by children• Limit physical entry as much as

possible• When entering a bin, use body

harness and safety line• Work with at least one other person

Summary

• There are several hazards on the farm that can lead to drowning

• Children are at GREAT RISK due to their size, lack of physical coordination and increased curiosity

• Be sure to properly mark or post signs near these areas warning others of the potential for drowning

Resources• Entrapment risk due to flowing grain. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH)

Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/63151/entrapment-risk-due-to-flowing-grain

• Farm pond safety. (2008) The Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/0390.pdf

• Farm pond safety. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/63139/farm-pond-safety

• Farm pond safety. (2002) Mississippi State University Extension. Retrieved from http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1098.pdf

• Ice Safety. (2003) The Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/0392.pdf

• Manure storage safety. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/19943/manure-storage-safety#.UoKXFI18uK8

For More Information

OSU Ag Safety & Health

The Ohio State University

Ag Engineering Building

590 Woody Hayes Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43210-1057

Email: jepsen.4@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-6008

Website: agsafety.osu.edu

This project was supported by the USDA’s National Institute of Food

and Agriculture (NIFA) Rural Health and Safety Education Grant

Program- grant number 2012-46100-20144.