The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

The shop is one of the most integral parts of any agricultural operation – it’s your business headquarters. A building for equipment and maintenance activities can morph into a meeting space, offices, and training room.

“Now is a great time to address deep cleaning, inventorying, and repairs,” says Dan Kent Agri-Services Agency Loss Control Consultant.

Whether it was last year’s goal or this year’s resolution, this is your excuse to get out of the cold and spend more time in your shop.

“There are a lot of hazards in a farm shop, from heavy equipment to hazardous chemicals that people need to be aware of,” says Kent. “Ventilation in the shop is important. The cold weather makes us want to bundle up and hunker down in the shop. It is important to have the ventilation running during the winter to mitigate the activities that give off dust and gases.”

Take time to go through safety with your shop staff to minimize hazards and risks. Here are tips to practicing safety during time in the shop:

1. Avoid wearing loose clothing. Don’t wear anything that can get caught in a power tool or a piece of operating equipment. This is also a stark reminder to make sure the guards are present on tools and equipment to help mitigate entanglement from our clothes.
2. Wear protective equipment. When operating tools, and especially around harsh chemicals, wear equipment that protects your face, hands, and feet. Protective eyeglasses are a start but wearing a face shield can protect the entire face. Wear a dust mask when appropriate. Where foot hazards are present, wear steel-toed shoes. Use earmuffs when noise hazards are present. Leather gloves, chemical-resistant gloves, hard hats, protective aprons, and welding shields are protective equipment items that should be on hand and utilized.
3. Keep your shop clean. Slips, trips, and falls can happen due to uneven flooring, wet or slippery surfaces, cluttered workspaces, or inadequate lighting. If something is spilled, wipe it up. If there are spare parts or tools laying around, put them away. All of these items can cause accidents in the shop - keeping the shop clean is a good practice.
4. Wash your hands. You will probably be working with grease, oil, and solvents on a regular basis. Even when wearing gloves in the shop, its good practice to wash your hands frequently to avoid skin damage.
5. Lockout/Tag-out (LOTO) equipment. Be sure any gas, electricity or hydraulic systems are locked in the off position before doing any maintenance on a piece of equipment. LOTO is more than turning off the machine before any maintenance is done. You must stop power flow to the machine, wait for any kinetic power to dissipate, lock it out with a physical barrier and a lock with your name or work ID on it. Before starting any maintenance, you must try to turn the machine back on to ensure it cannot be powered while servicing. This is called a bump test and is often one of the most overlooked parts of LOTO. This lock must remain on the machine until you have completed the services required. Simply taking the keys out of the tractor so it cannot be started while working on it is a form of LOTO that doesn’t cost a thing.
6. Handle chemicals and flammable liquids with care. All hazardous materials must be kept in properly labeled containers and should not be mixed. Store greasy rags in a container with a lid to avoid spontaneous combustion. All flammable and combustible materials should be stored away from heat sources. Keep fire extinguishers in good working order and hang them by shop doors. A piece of advice for those looking around their shop this winter is to update the SDS book that’s supposed to be in your shop with the Safety Data Sheets. These sheets should come with every chemical and oil you buy. You can also request them at most locations when you buy the product.
7. Use hoists, cranes and lifts to avoid injuries associated with lifting heavy objects. The use of these tools assists in good manual material handling practices. They can lighten the load you have to move or hold. If using a crane or hoist its best practice to have it inspected annually. When you need to use one of these tools its also imperative to make sure the slings, chains, and cables are in good shape prior to use. Check chains for stretched or twisted links, and slings for fraying or cuts.
8. Prevent electrical injury. Ensure all electrical equipment is properly grounded and all cords are intact. Frayed cords are a shock hazard, and heavier-gauge cord is preferred to operate all tools and avoid fire hazards due to overheating. Checking the electrical panels in the shop should be done regularly to maintain proper labeling of breakers and information. The electrical panels should also have a breaker or blank in every punch out to mitigate the risk of electrical shock when accessing or working on the panel. If you use an electrician on your operation, it’s a great practice to ask for their Certificates of Insurance every year and keep them on file.
9. Maintain tools and don’t use defective equipment. Keep tools in serviceable condition and dispose of any tools that show signs of wear. Regularly service tools such as hydraulic jacks, air wrenches and grinders to keep them in good working condition. A yearly inventory and inspection of tools should be conducted to maintain a clean and organized tool chest as well.
10. Keep the area ventilated. Air flow is important in a heated shop. Remove air contaminants with a ventilation system that includes hoods, roof vents, and high-speed intake and exhaust fans.

Maintenance and repair are important parts of keeping tractors and field equipment in good working condition and ready for field work. But safety is a risk whenever working with or around equipment. Take the time to clean your shop and refresh your team on proper safety protocols.

Day in and day out, Agri-Services Agency studies agricultural operations and understands the wide range of exposures that can happen and develops solutions to reduce costs, minimize risk and improve the safety of employees. Our goal is to find the best insurance solution for your farm, ranch or agribusiness.

For more information on safety training, workers’ compensation, health or farm insurance visit www.agri-servicesagency.com or call (877) 466-9089.

About Agri-Services Agency

Founded in 1969, Agri-Services Agency is a full-service insurance agency that specializes in providing customized solutions for farmers and agricultural businesses. ASA offers a wide range of products and services, including property and casualty insurance, workers' compensation, individual and group health insurance, dental coverage, vision plans, wellness programs and life insurance. Agri-Services Agency is committed to helping farmers and agri-businesses access comprehensive insurance coverage at a price that their budget.