Agriculture ranks among the most dangerous industries.   According to OSHA, 440 farmworkers died from work-related injuries in 2009.  The leading cause of death between 1992 and 2009 –tractor overturns.

An Ag Safety Awareness Program earlier this month at the Hays KSU Ag Research Center, brought together area high school F-F-A students and professionals who talked about injury prevention.  Two Barton County men told their personal stories about being hurt on the job, even though they’ve been farming all their lives.

Claflin farmer Don Feist was hospitalized for six weeks after his leg was smashed when his tractor rolled over on him.  He then was treated for several more weeks for a major staph infection which developed from unseen dirt still left in his leg after surgery.

David Wirth was run over by his tractor.  His teenage employees were too shocked to call 9-1-1.  The Ellinwood farmer had to do it himself.  He was airlifted to a Wichita hospital suffering injuries that included a crushed foot.

Wirth told the F-F-A students an accident “will happen” to them if they don’t work safely and slowly.

The students also learned about anhydrous ammonia hazards, electrical and natural gas safety and how to safely use skid steers.

OSHA statistics show that every day, about 243 ag works suffer a serious lost-worktime injury.