SPRINGFIELD – Illinois kicks Farm Safety and Health Week off today raising awareness about Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety. All farm vehicles traveling on public roads are required to display fluorescent orange Slow Moving Vehicle triangles. In addition, tractors and other farm vehicles and equipment must have adequate lighting. Drivers should be aware that farm vehicle operators often have limited rear visibility and exercise extreme caution when passing farm equipment. Tractor-related deaths are most commonly the result of side and rear overturns, and 80% of rollover deaths are experienced farmers. Rollover protection devices such as roll bars are effective at preventing injury and death, particularly in conjunction with a seatbelt. This year marks the 80th year for Farm Safety and Health Week in Illinois.
“Agriculture is our state’s leading industry, and unfortunately, it’s also the riskiest,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. “We want to bring awareness to the risks as well as the ways to ensure farmers’ safety during harvest and throughout the year.”