The Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) has distributed spring seasonal protective items to local ISU Extension and Outreach offices. Local farmers are welcome to stop by and pick-up free items which focus on protecting oneself while operating a tractor.
“We hope that tractor operators will think about all aspects of prevention as they gear up for spring planting,” said Brandi Janssen, Director of I-CASH. “Skin cancers are on the rise in Iowa, so sun protection is very important during spring’s newly long and sunny days. Noise induced hearing loss affects many farmers; a tractor, with or without a cab, can cause exposure to noise levels that could cause irreversible hearing loss. Finally, a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) is the best way to reduce the risk of injury or death in the event of a tractor rollover.”
ISU Extension and Outreach offices throughout the state have the free items, which include hearing and sun protection, available in their office.
Janssen said that I-Cash also has limited funding available to provide rebates for Iowa farmers to install ROPS on their old tractors through the National ROPS Rebate Program.
For more information, visit www.i-cash.org or www.ropsr4u.com.