Reprinted with permission from the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health
Many agriculturalists are using their down time in the winter to stay warm, fix machinery or get knee deep in their sugar bushes collecting sap to make maple syrup. While we call can appreciate the deliciousness that is the end product, safety should be one of the greatest concerns throughout the sugaring season. Maple production is a complex task. There are many aspects of the work that pose threats to the workers. Cold weather, slips, trips and falls in the woods, tractor and wagon usage, safe lifting, clothing and environment around an open flame are just a few of the many hazards faced.
Some of the many precautions can start with being aware of your surroundings. Freezing temperatures can create dangers including ice covered streams, uneven ground, dead sticks and limbs that are masked under snow, which in turn can be the main source of slips, trips and falls in the sugar bush. Some simple precautions to follow that will help reduce the chance of a slip, trip or fall while repairing lines and collection sap include wearing appropriate shoes and concentrating on the path ahead. Looking before you step can certainly help to keep you upright.
While sap collection is taking place, remember basic tractor safety practices and follow rules for safe lifting. Here are a few things to consider:
- Tractors should be equipped with a rollover protection structure (ROPS). Tractor rollovers are the most fatal of all farm work-related deaths in the United States. Always wear the seatbelt on ROPS equipped tractors. To find out if your non-ROPS tractor can be retrofitted with ROPS, call the ROPS Retrofit Rebate hotline at 1-877-ROPSR4U.
- Be aware of your surroundings when on the tractor–keep young children out of the woods with you. Never permit riders. Bystanders, such as young children, are more likely to be run over.
- If you are pulling a wagon with your tractor, make sure it is hitched to the draw bar with a proper hitch pin and safety clip. Do not over load wagons. If the wagon is loaded too heavily, it can cause the tractor and wagon to jackknife when going down hills, causing the tractor to overturn.
- When lifting, bend at your knees and not your back. If something is too heavy or awkward to lift, ask for help.
When collection is done, there’s nothing more rewarding than turning the sap into HOT maple syrup. Emphasis on the HOT! Evaporators can be fueled by firewood, propane, natural gas and fuel oil. With that in mind, radiant heat and flying embers are the main causes of fires in a sap house. If you are boiling sap in an enclosed location keep your work area free of clutter to avoid a fire; and proper clothing, such as cotton, should be worn to avoid burns to your skin. Remember nylon and other polyester clothing can catch on fire and melt to your skin causing more severe burns. Finally, post 10lb ABC fire extinguishers in your sugar house, and learn how to use them.
Following simple safety precautions can help keep you and your family safe. NYCAMH offers free on farm safety services and emergency response trainings. For more farm safety and health information, check out the NYCAMH website: www.nycamh.org
