This week, September 17-23, is National Farm Safety and Health Week. Those involved in agriculture are encouraged to observe it every day. It's especially important to be seen when operating equipment on public roads.

Long hours in the field can often lead to the operation of agricultural equipment on public roads before dawn and after dusk.

Don't forget to turn on your equipment's road lights -- headlights, tail lights and flashing warning lights -- and turn off all work lights during travel on public roads. Work lights, especially those facing rearwards, can cause unnecessary glare and confusion to others using public roads. Also, it is a good idea to take a few moments to wipe the field dust off of lights, reflectors and the slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem.

There are two easy ways to enhance the visibility of agricultural equipment and thus reduce risk while traveling on public roads:

• Make sure your equipment is equipped with an SMV that meets the latest standards and that is visible from greater distances during both daytime and nighttime travel and more resistant to fading than previous SMV emblems. These emblems are required by law in some states and provinces and available with adhesive backing making application fast and easy.
• Add reflective and fluorescent marking materials that are now being used on new equipment. It's backed with adhesive, making it fast and easy to apply to most agricultural equipment. Such tape is effective for marking the width extremities of equipment. It's available in kits that contain material for marking the front, sides and rear of equipment.

This week, September 17-23, is National Farm Safety and Health Week. Those involved in agriculture are encouraged to observe it every day. It's especially important to be seen when operating equipment on public roads.