SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The fatal accident last week in rural Tazewell County involving a car and a combine could serve as a reminder that it can be dangerous this time of year on the roads.
The State of Illinois is recognizing this week as National Farm Safety and Health Week.
“There’s a lot of large machinery now that’s going to be on, especially, our rural roads, even some of our busier city highways and things like that,” said Krista Lisser, Illinois Department of Agriculture spokesperson. “We want to encourage people to make sure they look out for farmers, look out for that large machinery, especially during harvest.”
But, Lisser says, it’s not just up to motorists to be safe. Nearly 575 people die every year in farming-related accidents nationally, with overturned tractors being the leading problem. The state also urges farmers to not overwork themselves, and take care of their mental health.
“They tend to the land. They tend to their animals. But they often don’t tend to themselves, especially their mental health,” said Lisser. “That’s really an initiative here at the department that we’ve been pushing.”
Lisser said the department is encouraging farmers to get plenty of rest, and for farmers who may be working hard to get the harvest complete, to also return home to their families every night.
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