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Assistive Technology Resources National AgrAbility Workshop (2001 - 2008)
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Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families
SurfacesSurfaces around a farmstead vary from a vinyl floor in the house, to a concrete floor in the machine shed or shop, to uneven terrain around the farm. Some present problems or hazards for people with disabilities. A variety of products and procedures can help reduce those hazards. In the home: Walking indoors on a vinyl floor with wet shoes can be hazardous. A throw rug with an anti-slip backing should be used in such high-traffic areas. Lok-Lift® Rug Gripper Tape or a coating of Plasti Dip Super Grip® can be used to modify rugs without anti-slip backing. Non-skid Safety Tape can be used to prevent slips in the bathtub or on indoor stairways.
In farm buildings: Non-slip paint coatings can be applied to shop floors. It can be as inexpensive and easy as mixing silica sand with regular floor paints. Chemical "etching" can also be applied to create non-slip surfaces. Note, anti-slip solutions, such as tread tapes and silica sand in paint, will not be effective in oily or icy conditions. This is due to inadequate surface profile needed to make contact with the footwear. For these solutions to work, all spilled oil should be cleaned up immediately and icy surfaces treated frequently. Keeping a floor, such as in a milking parlor, dry may not always be possible. Therefore, anti-slip mats should be used. When choosing a mat, look for good drainage features. Outside: Uneven terrain surfaces should be well drained and maintained. Crushed limestone mix versus loose gravel reduces foot slippage. In climates with freezing temperatures, make sure that plenty of ice-melting material is supplied in various "strategic" locations around the farm. Quick and frequent application of such materials to slippery surfaces is essential. Footwear and Mobility AidsA good pair of boots can make a big difference in slip/fall prevention. Replace worn boots with new boots that have a good anti-slip tread pattern. Look for a tread pattern that would provide good traction in wet, muddy conditions. Boots with a heel notch provide better grip when walking downhill. In addition, many companies make ice gripper attachments for boots/shoes. These attachments can be easily secured to most shoes and boots. A cane or walking stick can also provide a farmer/rancher stability when he/she is walking on uneven surfaces. Broader-based tips and ice grip attachments such as Five Cleat Ice Pick for Canes can provide further stability on slippery surfaces. A broader-based cane tip increases the surface area that the cane tip can grip.
Even with the best footwear and cane tips, slips and falls can still occur. Many farmers have reported using a variety of motorized mobility aids to reduce the risk of a fall as well as fatigue when walking long distances. Examples of these aids include a modified riding lawn mower, a golf cart, a powered scooter, and various all-terrain vehicles. Regardless of what motorized vehicle is used, a farmer/rancher with a mobility impairment should always carry a communication device (e.g., a cell phone or two-way radio) to call for help if the vehicle gets stuck or breaks down. Steps and HandrailsClimbing up and down steps, ladders, and stairs can be hazardous for farmers/ranchers with mobility impairments. The use of modified steps and handrails can help prevent a potential fall. Steps on equipment or machinery should be constructed of a non-slip material, such as Grip Strut® safety grating material. This material has a high-load capacity and low maintenance costs. In addition, these steps should be maintained to prevent a build-up of mud, which will counteract the anti-slip properties of the step. Wider and deeper steps provide for increased surface area to support the entire foot or both feet rather then providing just enough space for a portion of a foot. Expanded metal can also be applied to existing steps to reduce foot slippage. Handrails applied alongside the steps should be used to provide greater stability when mounting and dismounting from the tractor and prevent a potential fall.
Ladders can be modified with a non-slip ladder rung material called Tread-Grip®, Traction-Tread, or Safety-Tread, or anti-slip ladder rung covers. These materials can provide a high-traction anti-slip surface to prevent foot slippage.
An anti-slip surface can also be easily applied to stairs using a material called Skid Guard Safety Tape, which can be found at most hardware stores. Stairways should have handrails mounted on both sides of the stairs to provide support and stability for anyone ascending and descending. Note, while anti-slip materials (e.g., tread tapes, Grip Strut®, ladder rung covers, non-skid mats) reduce potential slips and falls, these same materials can become a catch hazard and result in a fall for farmers/ranchers with mobility impairments who lack sensation in lower extremities. The material can grip a person's foot so well that he/she may forget to or have difficulty lifting his/her foot up and off of the material, thus resulting in a potential fall.
SummarySlips and falls will continue to be a number one concern for farmers/ranchers with mobility impairments. The above suggestions are only a few of the many solutions that can be tried to reduce these risks. However, the most valuable recommendation shared by many farmers/ranchers is "Slow down." Moving too fast increases everyone's risk of a slip or fall.
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