Are you ready for upcoming spring projects?

Spring is truly a season of transformation. All winter long, many have been thinking, and even dreaming, about the projects they hope to tackle this season. From general repairs to adding new fixtures, various tools and equipment will be used along the way. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind, especially with children watching and wanting to help. 

 Safe Hands, Sharp Tools 

When using hand tools or power tools, always select the right tool for the job to help prevent incidents and injuries. Start out by inspecting tools before use for any damage or wear. Remember, proper care and storage will not only help with the tool’s durability and performance but can also help prevent incidents. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and safety glasses. Maybe move this sentence around: such as gloves and safety glasses and maintain a firm grip and proper stance while using tools to enhance control. While using tools, maintain a firm grip and proper stance to enhance control.  

Avoid leaving tools plugged in or unattended, as it can lead to a tripping hazard or can present a dangerous situation to a child. Therefore, always assess safety before, during, and after use. 

Ladder Logic: Elevate with Caution  

Many projects will involve the need for a ladder. First, start out with choosing the right ladder type for your task at hand (step ladder, extension ladder, etc.). Avoid cutting corners by standing on a table, chair, or other surface, especially ones with wheels to quickly access something. Never take chances with faulty, broken, or unsecured ladders, it’s best to replace them. Never lean or overreach on a ladder, it is important to keep your body centered. Ensure the ladder is on level ground, have someone support the bottom. Always use three-points of contact when ascending and descending.    

Remember, leaving ladders around the home, farm, or ranch, may also entice a child’s curiosity to climb, which could lead to a slip or fall. Therefore, be sure to store ladders securely when not in use.     

Safe Digging: Know What’s Below 

From planting trees or a garden, to installing a mailbox or fence, several outdoor projects will involve digging. However, before grabbing the shovel, it's important to remember a vital task – call 811! This simple, free phone call to the national call-before-you-dig number can ensure that any buried utility lines are clearly marked. Call 811 before any large or small digging projects to help prevent unplanned disturbances during your project, ultimately saving you time and money while ensuring your safety, along with the safety of your crew and neighbors.   

Whether a seasoned professional or a homeowner embarking on their first digging project, your safety, and the safety of those around you, is in your hands. Even if you have excavated an area previously, factors like erosion and ground settling can change the depth and location of utilities over time. 

According to call811.com, failure to call (or click) before digging results in damage to a buried utility once every six minutes across the United States. Disturbance to an underground utility line can cause damage to the environment, serious personal injuries, and disruption of service for the neighborhood, leading to expenses in fines and repair costs. 

When Children Want to Help  

Children are often eager and willing to help with spring projects; however, it is important to remember their age, maturity level, and developmental abilities.  

For younger children, consider ways you can satisfy your child’s interest in helping and best prepare them for future tasks. For example, they can sharpen their knife skills using a bar of soap and a plastic knife. A small kit for a project like assembling a birdhouse is also a great starting point. Under adult supervision, this activity can lead to their first encounter with tools, like a 4-ounce claw hammer, which is perfect for their little hands and level of strength. You can build up from these experiences aimed at developing their skills. No matter what the task is, they always prioritize safety, so they learn to value it from an early age.  

The Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines (AYWG) are designed to help adults assess a youth’s abilities to safely perform a task and assign age and ability-appropriate tasks to youth working in agriculture, helping to prevent injuries and fatalities. Each guideline includes a list of what a youth must be able to do to perform the task safely, adult responsibilities and guidance for supervising youth, as well as common hazards and protective strategies. Click here (https://www.marshfieldresearch.org/nccrahs/agricultural-youth-work-guidelines) to access these guidelines and other resources.

Protecting the Future Generation 

 Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Day) programs continue to be recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. More than 2 million children and adults have been impacted since the program’s inception in 1995. 

You, too, can join the mission and provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all children, their families, and their communities. Visit www.progressiveag.org for more information and click on Get Involved to learn about volunteer opportunities, donating to the cause, or how to bring a PAF Safety Day to your local community.