It's National Farm Safety and Health Week

 

From New York Farm Bureau and NYCAMH:

New York Farm Bureau and the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health are recognizing “National Farm Safety and Health Week” which runs Sept. 21-27. 

The theme this year is “Safety Counts: Protecting What Matters.”  It serves as a reminder for the nearly 36,000 farms in the state that strive to provide a safe workplace environment for their family members and employees.

Dean Norton

“We encourage all of our farmer members who are especially busy with harvest this time of year to think of safety first. Farming can be a dangerous occupation, but great strides have been made in New York to reduce risks on the farm," said Farm Bureau President Dean Norton.

"It is important that our farms review their safety protocols and 'protect what matters' this week and all year long,” he said.

This sentiment is also shared by Sam Parks, NYCAMH’s promotion coordinator.

“There is no greater reward than to work with the people that help to feed us three times a day. Often their struggles go unnoticed as they work day to day," Parks said. "Although farm work comes with some risks, much has been done in the New York farm community to address workplace hazards. 

"Despite the challenges in farming, agriculture is a great way of life and is filled with many rewards. During this week we salute our farmers and encourage them to take some time to celebrate their hard work, and think about ways to create a culture of safety on their farm,” Parks said.