ST. PAUL – Agriculture is a major driver of Greater Minnesota’s economy, yet it also routinely ranks among the most dangerous occupations.
National Farm Safety and Health Week is an initiative aimed at making improvements on the latter and it lasts through this Saturday. Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, said he hopes this event will help raise awareness to today’s issues related to farm safety that might be somewhat under the radar.
“When you hear about farm safety, things such as proper operation of heavy equipment and handling potentially hazardous chemicals naturally come to mind,” Urdahl said. “Those are important subjects, but the full picture also includes issues such as rural highway safety and mental health strains associated with the stresses farmers face. It is good we are shining a spotlight on farm safety as we enter the fall harvest, a time where dangers can intensify in the ag. industry.”
National Farm Safety and Health Week is conducted by the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, based in Minneapolis as a collaborative effort among five research and health care institutions in the region. A different theme is being featured each day this week. More information, including social media links, is available at umash.umn.edu.
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