Feedlots and cow/calf operations in the beef industry who feed 500 or more has annually on grains and concentrates; maintain 500 or more beef cows; backgrounder, stocker/grower, preconditioner; veterinarian, nutritionist, consultant
Issue link: http://feedlotmagazine.epubxp.com/i/592830
Let's face it. Common sense isn't so common anymore. We used to hire kids off the farm who would clock in on day one already know- ing how to run equipment, work cattle and stay out of the way when things got dicey. Now, we have to teach them everything under the sun and pray they can figure out the rest. Unfortunately, in spite of all that, the industry still suffers its share of feedlot accidents. We hear about employees being run over by feed trucks, dragged by horses, thrown off ATVs or pinched while working cattle. Some accidents cause minor injuries and maybe a brief hospital stay, while others lead to devastating fatalities. The cost of these accidents es- calates along with the cost of med- ical care. By comparison, the aver- age expense of a chainsaw accident in 1985 was about $3,850. Today, it's around $55,000—not counting lost wages, disability pay- ments, increased insurance costs and lost productivity. Safety Pays These astronomical costs direct- ly and indirectly tied to feedlot ac- cidents are why many operations are considering formal employee safety training. Granted, such train- ing isn't cheap, but it pays better dividends than any other work- place instruction. In fact, the Ag Safety and Health Council of America found that, for every $1.00 spent on safety train- ing, we get between $4.00 and $6.00 back through significant reduc- tions in injuries, worker's comp premiums, lost labor and OSHA fines—while also gaining higher employee productivity. Still other financial losses suf- fered through lack of safety train- ing are also evident, but more dif- ficult to measure. For example, if a farm fatality occurs in a grain bin or other struc- ture, that particular facility is often decommissioned. Companies that experience a pattern of serious-to- fatal injuries struggle to find new employees. And bankruptcy rates among businesses with serious in- juries and fatalities are much high- er than average. Is Ag Now on OSHA's Radar? Feedlot operators in Nebraska and dairy operators in Wisconsin would say the issue is way beyond "radar." It's already happening, with OSHA having conducted spe- cific inspection programs in those states, as part of an intent to take a closer look at agriculture—and understandably so. Agriculture is part of an industry sector that has long ranked num- ber one in the U.S. for injuries and 14 FEED•LOT November 2015 Bottom Line Feedyard Accidents F E E D L O T F O C U S and the Risks to Your B Y DON TYLER 1-800-536-8438 "We can customize a system to meet your needs." ❖ Platform Scales (10 sizes/self-contained) ❖ Single Animal Weigh Cage (self-contained) ❖ Single Animal Scales (under squeeze chutes) ❖ Portable Calf Scales (3 designs for various weights) ❖ Hay Processor Scales Specializing In: • Turn-Key Feedyard Construction • Hog Site Construction • Complete Dairy Construction • Sprinkler System • CAD Design • GPS Survey • Slipform Concrete Feedbunks • Dirtwork of All Types • Laser-Equipped Machinery • All types of Fencing Phone: 800-536-2634 maxjantzexcavating.com