Agriculture in West Virginia - WVATS Newsletters
WVATS Newsletter Articles - 2006
Making the Best of Winter Farm Work
- 3 in 1 Head-Light
- High Leverage Wire Stretcher
- Magnifier Tweezers
- Journeyman Mobility Vehicle
- Tractor Safety Video Released
- Eye Safety Tips for National Eye Care Month
- Finding the Right Utility Vehicle
3 in 1 Head-Light
Don't fumble in the dark when the work day extends past dusk. January is National Eye Care Month, and headlamps are a hands-free way to keep the light trained on your task and prevent squinting. This lamp, from QC Supply www.qcsupply.com or 800-433-6340, features fully adjustable head straps and lifetime LED bulbs that never need to be replaced.
High Leverage Wire Stretcher
For those who reserve winter for fencing repair, here's an inexpensive tool for making repairs safer and easier to do without the benefit of a helper. This tool is available from Gempler's www.gemplers.com, which also makes two and three hook stretchers for splicing fence wire with one hand.
Magnifier Tweezers
From splinters to garden pest identification, these tweezers with a built-in magnifier are the ideal tool for very small detail jobs. They are available from Lee Valley Garden Tools www.leevalley.com or 800-971-8158.
The Journeyman Mobility Vehicle
Have you been looking for a mobility device that is rugged enough for fields and trails but small enough to navigate narrow spaces? The Journeyman is all-weather resistant, travels up to seven miles/hour and has even traveled on the Oregon Trail! Hubert Von Holten, designer of the Journeyman, has been modifying and designing farm equipment since the age of 14, after contracting polio at age five. His machine shop manufactures many of the personal mobility products offered by Life Essentials www.life-essentials.net or 765-742-6707. The Journeyman also features a lift that enables users to access tall cabinets and tool shelves.
Tractor Safety Video Released
According the West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center (ICRC), tractor accidents have killed 29 people in West Virginia since 2000. Side overturns, which can occur when operating tractors on hillsides, are among the most common causes of tractor-related injury. WVU Extension Service advises farmers to make uphill turns cautiously and turn downhill if stability becomes uncertain. If you have to go up a steep slope, back the tractor up rear-first. WVU ICRC and the West Virginia Farm Bureau have recently produced a new video, "A Tractor Accident Can Happen to Anyone", which has already been distributed to nearly 6,000 farmers statewide. For a copy of the video or for more information on tractor safety, call 877-329-8137.
Eye Safety Tips for National Eye Care Month
Approximately 2000 work-related eye injuries occur every day in the United States, but even people who wear appropriate eye protection can be at risk for injury. Goggles or safety glasses can fog up and obscure your vision during dangerous tasks. To keep them from fogging, here are a few tips, courtesy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:
- Buy safety glasses that have anti-fog coatings put on during manufacturing
- Use anti-fog solutions on the lenses regularly, if needed
- Wear a sweat band on your forehead or a cool rag in your hard hat
- Keep the lenses clean and unscratched
Finding the Right Utility Vehicle
You might look long and hard this winter at the utility vehicles available at your local dealership, but do you know at a glance the torque needed to turn the steering wheel on competing models, or which ones offer manuals in large print or alternate formats? The National AgrAbility Project has recently updated its utility vehicle product comparison data sheet[download] to include information on ten different vehicles. Compare side-by-side details like seat size, angle and adjustability, tire width, the level of force needed to move the shift lever and much more. No where else can you find such a detailed tool to help you make the right choice when purchasing a utility vehicle for your farm.
