Milford chronicle., 1954-07-23
NATIONAL FARM SAFETY WEEK

The week of July 25-31 will be an inn
portant one in the world of agriculture By
presidential Proclamation, it has been desig-
mated as the 18th National Farm Safety
Week. The President also suggested the
theme: Farm to Live and Live to Farm
The Week is sponsored Jointly by the
National Safety Council and the U. S. De-
partment Of Agriculture, and has the GOOD
Grafton of the Farm Bureau Federation. the
National Grange, the Farm Equipment In
stltute and many other organizations. There
can be no doubt that intensive attention to
the farm safety problem is needed. More
accidental deaths occur in farming than in
any other major industry. It is forecast
that, unless the farm safety picture changes
materially from that of the recent past, with
IN the next year 14,00 farm residents will
die as the result Of accidents and 100000
will be injDSed
Farm people are exposed to all the haz-
ards common to the public at large. such as
highway accidents. In addition, in this age
OF highly mechanized and electrified agricul-
ture, they are exposed to hazards which are
peculiar to farm operations. In order to
better cover this wide field, the Week is to
be divided into series of special days. Sun
day viii be Church Day, with ministers
urged 70 discuss the commandment ''Thou
Shalt Not KILL and it will be followed in
order by Home Safety Day, Livestock Safety
Day, Fall Prevention Day, Highway Safety
Day, Machinery Safety Day, and, finally.
Review Day.
The list of topics and principles that will
De STRESSED IS g long one Fatigue and over
crowded schedules are ace;dent producers
Haste makes for mishaps as well as waste
Orderliness and good housekeeping in all
phases OF farming are important safety fac
tors IL their own right. Good planning means
better production and fewer accidents. On
the highway, knowledge Of the laws and
proper driving practices, coupled with a live
and Let live spirit, is a vital need. Special
precautions and training are needed when
there are small children on the farm.
The Farm Equipment Institute has long
worked and continues to work toward safer
machlnery-and also toward safer operation
and better maintenance Of that machinery.
particular attention has been given to the
question OF lights on equipment that travels
the public r0ads-an unlighted, sloW-mov-
ing machine at night obviously presents
great hazard. It has promulgated clear and
comprehensive rules for safe tractor opera
tlon winch, II followed, reduce the chance of
accident to the vanishing point The eouip-
ment engineers have made all manner of
major improvements, such as shielding pow
er take-0n shafts, once leading cause of
accidents. The industry not only wants to
produce the best equipment, but the safest
One serious problem over which-the eouip-
ment people have no control is found in
make shift homemade attachments. These
are often excessively dangerous.
In his proclamation President Eisen-
hover requested all persons and organiza-
tions interested in farm life and welfare to
JOIN IN campaign to free as many farm
homes as possible from the tragedies and
losses caused by needless accidents" That
Is great goal, and high hopes are held for
its attainment