Chapter 1. Introduction

I. Kansas State University is a land-grant university with a deep rooted history of agricultural science education and research. As such, there is a profound interest in the safety and health of the agricultural workers at the main campus, outlying units, and facilities across the state. This set of occupational safety and health rules are meant to provide all agricultural workers at Kansas State University the proper guidelines to prevent accidents and loss of life, limb or property. Under all circumstances, workers must be properly trained to perform their required task.

II. All guidelines in this set of agricultural safety rules were developed from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 29 CFR 1910, 1926, and 1928 as adopted by K.S.A. 44636 and 637. Workers are reminded that the Kansas State University is not regulated by OSHA. The administration voluntarily complies with 29 CFR 1910, 1926, and 1928.

III. These rules are to be used as building blocks for individual agricultural units to properly provide adequate safety and health protection for their workers. Department heads or directors should add to this set of rules local regulations and procedures that are specific for their location. Department heads or directors are responsible for implementation of safe work practices. The purpose of this Ag Safety Manual is to create an overall awareness of the hazards of the job as well as to offer guidelines for safe agricultural practices. Employees should review, be familiar, and understand the information set forth in these guidelines. Interested personnel are referred to these documents for assistance or additional explanations with the rules.

IV. This manual is intended to be flexible so departments can use and apply only those sections that pertain to them. Department heads or directors should add to these rules local regulations and procedures that are specific for their location. The Department of Public Safety will review this manual on a regular basis and make changes as the Federal and State laws change.

V. The University has a responsibility to provide a safe workplace for its employees. Workers also have a responsibility to follow safe practices to protect themselves and others working around them. In agricultural work as with other types of labor, there is a certain amount of common sense that must be brought to the job by the worker. Rules and guidelines cannot always be provided to ensure guarantee a safe workplace in all work situations. Therefore, agricultural workers must use common sense safety in those situations.