Bulletin #2360, Maine Farm Safety Program: Preplanning for Farm Emergencies

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Bulletin #2360, Maine Farm Safety Program: Preplanning for Farm Emergencies (PDF)

By Dawna L. Cyr, Farm Safety Project Assistant, and Steven B. Johnson, Ph.D., Extension Crops Specialist

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Table of Contents:

Preplanning is an important part of farm safety. Preplanning may take some time, but it may save a life. An emergency response plan in a notebook should be available in the event of an emergency. This plan should include instructions on what to do in case of an emergency, maps, inventory lists and emergency phone numbers.

Making a Plan

Sit down with family and farm workers and put together a list of things that would have to be done should an emergency arise. In the event that an emergency happens on the farm, it is a big advantage to be prepared.

  • Write out an emergency plan.
  • Post emergency numbers next to telephones.
  • Have farm maps and detailed directions to all locations easily accessible.
  • Make sure family and employees know how to disengage or shut down equipment and the location of fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

Basic Emergency Response Information

Communication with others is important in times of emergency. The emergency response plan should include a list of telephone numbers to call in the event of an emergency. The list should be in the order of how the calls should be made. This list should also include the owner’s home and other farm telephone numbers, the names and numbers of local chemical dealers and emergency response personnel (fire department, ambulance, local police/sheriff, state police, Poison Control Center and electric/gas supplier). Post the list near all phones on the farm and in central gathering areas.

When calling for help, remember to give your name, telephone number, and state the emergency situation. The telephone number and 911 address should be clearly marked on the landline phone or beside it. Post clear, concise directions, since a stranger may be using the telephone in times of emergency. Be sure to give clear and concise directions to the location of the accident or to someone who will take rescue personnel to the scene.

Here are the specific things rescue workers need to know when a call is made:

  1. The location of the accident and directions to the location.
  2. The telephone number from which the call is made.
  3. The nature of the accident (tractor roll-over, PTO injury, etc.).
  4. Number of victims.
  5. Condition of victims (breathing, bleeding, etc.).
  6. Type of first aid given, if any (CPR, etc.).
  7. Whether someone will meet them at the entrance to direct them to the victim. Do this when possible.
  8. Any special conditions in the area that will interfere with the rescue efforts (muddy fields, etc.).
  9. Any other necessary information.

NOTE: It is important not to panic; stay on the phone until the rescue staff hangs up first!

Notification System

It is very important for people with whom you are working to know where you are. Notification can be as easy as telling someone where you will be working or keeping a bulletin board in a farm office or other workplace with time, date, and the location of where you’re working. Cellular phones and two-way radios are also good ways to keep in touch. If you do not report back after a certain time, other workers will know your location and can check on you.

Farm Maps

Some roads in rural areas do not have signs or are known by other names, In the event of an accident, area rescue personnel need to know the names of the roads in the area and their location. Make a map of the fields on your farm and the access roads with their proper and better-known names. Keep a copy of this map in your office and home, give a copy to your local rescue office, and post one near phones and in central gathering areas.

A facility map should show all buildings, fixed equipment and utility shut off points. Put a distance scale and compass on the map. Label and name the buildings on the map and note their contents, such as chemical storage or equipment. Show loading tanks, fixed equipment, wells, and sewer lines. Point out where electricity, water, and gas may be turned off. Keep this map with the field map.

Often, people will be called to meet you somewhere or drop something off. Other times, people may just be curious. It is very important to mark buildings with their name, purpose or contents. Some buildings may not be appropriate for visitors or younger family members and should be marked as such.

Inventory Lists

The emergency response plan should have an inventory list. The list should include quantities and locations of pesticides, first aid kits, tools, fire extinguishers, protective clothing, shovels, disposal containers, and absorbent materials. Knowing the quantities and locations of pesticides is a must. Should there be a natural disaster or fire, it is essential to know where the pesticides are to prevent further catastrophes. The other items are very important if an emergency arises because they could be needed to protect people from harmful exposure.

Dealing with the Media

The media will report on major farm disasters in their area. The media needs to receive timely and accurate information. Appoint one person to talk to the media and direct all questions to that person. Prepare the spokesperson with information the public should know such as the nature of the emergency, chemicals involved, injuries and potential hazards. Spokespersons should not speculate, lie or say “no comment.” They should give a reason why they can’t respond (such as it is unconfirmed information or a legal matter). Being calm, confident and honest will help relieve the public and promote good media relations.

Make sure family and employees know how to disengage or shut down equipment and the location of fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

Show Me List

If there is a farm accident, all people need to know a few key facts. Here is a checklist to follow. Each person involved in the operation of the farm needs to know how to do these things.

___ Where and how to turn off the ignition on gas-powered equipment.
___ How to operate the fuel shut off on diesel equipment.
___ How to adjust the tractor seat.
___ How to drive forward and in reverse.
___ Where and how to turn off lights (to prevent fire).
___ Location of fire extinguisher.
___ How to disengage the power take off (PTO).
___ Location of power lines in relation to the movement of equipment.
___ How to turn off augers and elevators.
___ How to disconnect electrical power.
___ How to operate the equipment.
___ How to turn on the fan to get air movement in manure pits.
___ Location of first aid kits.
___ Where other personal protective equipment safety items are located and how to use them (respirators/masks, welders mask, etc.).

Grain Bin Controls Checklist

___ How to turn on the aeration fan.
___ How to turn on the drier.
___ How to turn off the automatic grain cycling equipment.

This Maine Farm Safety fact sheet is part of an educational fact sheet series produced by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For more information on farm safety, contact your UMaine Extension County Office.

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

© 2003, 2020

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