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Kentucky Ag safety education
“How many of you live or work own Dale Dobson has done just that. and lawnmower rescue. His realis-
in a farm environment?” A roomful In the 90’s, Dobson started hold- tic safety demonstrations use actual
of hands goes up when speaker Dale ing ag safety schools on his farm and farm machinery to teach emergency
Dobson asks the question at a LaRue later expanded the program to in- personnel precise rescue methods for
County High School agriculture safe- clude training for regional EMS and incidents involving heavy pieces of
ty day—which is exactly what makes fire departments. By 1998, former equipment. Dobson’s training exhib-
farm safety education important. Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner its include a rollover tractor simula-
In the early 1990s, statistics Billy Ray Smith had appointed tor, which demonstrates the correct
showed farming to be three times Dobson as the Farm Safety Field use of a rollover bar and seat belt to
more dangerous in Kentucky than Officer for the Kentucky Department protect a tractor operator as well as
any other state and the adjoining of Agriculture and Dobson began a miniature grain bin and wagon,
counties of LaRue, Hardin and implementing his farm safety pro- which illustrates the danger of being
Nelson Counties had the highest gram at farms, schools and emergen- submerged and trapped by grain.
number of farm-related injuries in cy departments throughout the state.
the nation. Now acting as the KDA’s Safety For more information about the program,
Figuring out how to lower fatalities Administrator, Dobson continues contact Dobson at 270-872-9570 or email
and injuries from farm accidents was to give courses ranging from ATV him at dale.dobson@ky.gov
a big challenge, but LaRue County’s safety and grain bin rescue to tractor
Kentucky Depatment of Agriculture Safety
Administrator Dale Dobson (below) stands
with a rollover tractor simulator that he
uses to conduct farm saftey demonstrations
across the state including grain rescues
pictured at left.
agriculture
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