Personal Safety in Ag Mechanics Ag I Safety: Unit 1

Safety Freedom from accidents

The Safe Place to Work Be aware of the hazards Take precautions

Precaution to Take to Make a Safer Workplace See handout sent to you. Install machinery according to specifications Keep tools and equipment adjusted or fitted to specs Use tools and equipment skillfully Provide proper storage for tools, materials, fuels, chemicals and waste Keep work areas clean Keep moving parts shielded Manage all situations to avoid the likelihood of falling objects Avoid areas where objects may fall Avoid the flight path of objects that could be thrown by machines Protect eyes, face, feet, and other parts of the body with protective clothing and devices Move slowly enough to avoid creating hazards to yourself and others Read and heed all precautions

Protective Clothing and Devices Eyes, ears hands, arms, feet and legs are easily injured Best protection is PREVENTION The next best approach is to protect the body where injury may occur

Injury may occur to any part of the body while working in the shop. Head 10% Body 25% Arms & Hands 36% Legs 12% Feet 12%

Safety Glasses and Face Shields Face and eyes are the most critical body part to be protected Glasses and goggles should have impact resistant lenses and side shields They should fit the face Be clean Shaded lenses should be used for welding – Clear lenses can be worn under a welding helmet

Hair Restraints Long hair needs to be pulled back to keep it from being caught in turning equipment

Coveralls Versatile; protect arms, body, legs Should fit well and be easily removable Should button at or zip to the neck Should not have cuffed sleeves or pant legs

Aprons Should be made of heavy cloth or leather Protect the front of the body and upper legs Should be limited in use to work at benches Vinyl or rubber should be worn when liquids are used

Shop Coats Same benefits of aprons plus additional body protection Easy to put on Most used

Footwear Leather shoes with steel toes are recommended Our shop – Closed toe shoes are required – Tennis shoes are not recommended

Gloves Protect hands Leather for protection from heat, abrasion or impact Rubber or vinyl for liquids or chemicals

Mask & Respirators Needed to filter out particles of dust or spray paint Should be worn when sanding, painting or wherever dust is encountered Forced ventilation (shop fan) should be used when welding

Ear Protection Recommended when the intensity, frequency or duration of noise reaches certain levels – Noise intensitythe energy in the sound waves – Noise durationthe length of time a person is exposed to a sound OSHA has established that a 90 dB noise level for an 8 hour period is the maximum safe limit – The decibel (dB) is the standard unit of sound

Summary Safety is freedom from accident A safe place to work can be achieved by being aware of hazards and take precautions against them. Protective clothing such as safety glasses, shop coats, and ear protection should be worn at all times.