"A Family Tradition for 125 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, July 23, 1991 - 23 =--=Farm Safet y Week=3%- Many Scugog families suffer farming deaths God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. By Julia Dempsey The meaning of that phrase painfully came to life on the pages of the Port Perry Star's November 26, 1985 edition. It was printed at the bottom of a special tribute to a special Scugog Township boy who died = a tragic farm-related acci- ent. John Andrews, then 12 years old, died November 2, 1985 when he became trapped in a burning barn. News reports state that John may have been trying to put the blaze out. But the fire spread uickly in the hay-filled steel clad structure. His parents, Jack and Diane Andrews, formerly of the Sea- grave area, allowed the Star to print the touching tribute writ- deadly. suddenly. the warning. starting procedures. at no charge. BYPASSsSTARTING... it could mean your finish * These illustrations show the hazard of starting a tractor when not in the driver's seat. One typical way to bypass start is by using a metal object such as a screwdriter to short across starter terminals. . .the consequences can be Many tractors today have a "hydraulic" clutch. A hydraulic clutch will not be engaged until the engine starts: then hydraulic pressure builds up and, if left in gear, the tractor will lurch What should you do? * Always follow the correct starting procedure. * NEVER start a tractor at the starter or anywhere other than the operator's station. * Put a warning decal on every tractor and follow * Instruct other operators to follow correct Ask us for FREE decals, leaflets and use of our safety video for your family or organization. We also install FREE Bypass Starter Kits on your John Deere Tractors UTICA FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED 2 miles west of Manchester on Durham 21 985-9701 ten by John's former teacher, John Bark. Among John's many attrib- utes, Mr. Bark made mention of his willingness to help others, his determination to excel both scholastically and athletically, and his deep devotion to his family. Johnis one of 10 Durham Re- gion residents who have died in farm-related accidents in the past 12 years, according to the ocal Farm Safety Association. Shockingly, at least half of those deaths have had a direct fect on Scugog Township fam- ilies. Donald Tilling, son of Black- stock-area residents Arthur and Shirley Tilling, died on June 23, 1987. The 19 year-old was working on an Uxbridge-area farm at the time of the accident. According to news reports, Donald was driving a 995 Case tractor with a manure spreader attached up a steep grass- covered hill. It is believed that he made it three-quarters of the way up the embankment, but could make it no farther. He may have been reversing down the hill when the tractor and spreader jack-knifed. The ma- chinery rolled two-and-a-half times before coming to a halt at the bottom of the hill. Donald was found a few feet from the scene by a co-worker. Mrs. Tilling spoke with the Star recently. She said some iy has resulted from the trag- edy. 'Since the accident, many farmers have been more safety conscious," she said, adding many farmers have installed two-way radios in their trac- tors. A 10-year-old Epsom-area boy lost his life on May 6, 1985 when he was pinned beneath a tractor. According to reports, two teens asked to borrow a tractor to pull a truck out of a ditch. The boy tagged along. The driv- er lost control of the tractor. It left the road, flipped and fell four feet into a ditch. The victim was pinned be- neath the steering wheel. The driver was also pinned under the vehicle and suffered severe leg injuries. The second teen was thrown clear. In order to "bring some good from a tragedy" the victim's parents donated his big, blue eyes so that some other child would receive the gift of sight. Another Seagrave-area boy lost his life in a farm-related ac- cident onJanuary 8, 1983. The four year old victim got caught in the power take off East Central AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ... For all your farm labour needs ... 170 Queen Street, Port Perry, Ont. LOL 1B8 Rolly Coy Telephone (416) 985-3831 Manager (Toll Free) 1-800-263-3825 -- HR mechanism between a tractor and a corn elevator. A "native son" of Blackstock died when a gravity box full of corn fell on the victim. The accident happened on November 25, 1984 when the victim, 51, was jacking up the left side of the box. Other Durham Region fatali- ties reported to the Farm Safe- ty Association include: *August 4, 1987 - While run- ning, the three-year-old victim tripped and fell under the wheel of a wagon carrying a 1,000-gallon water tank. *November 23, 1985 - The victim, 22 months old, was rid- ing on a farm tractor. The trac- tor jolted as it entered a drive- way causing the victim to fall from the tractor and the rear wheel ran over the victim's head. *October 19, 1982 - The vic- tim, 17, backed a tractor uptoa hay wagon and then dismount- ed, leaving the tractor in gear. The victim stood between the tractor and wagon and reached over to push the clutch lever forward in an effort to move the tractor backwards. The tractor jerked back, crushing the vic- tim between the tractor and hay wagon. *March 26, 1980 - The 66- year-old victim may have been tightening a ratchet device. Due to a faulty spring, the ha- dle flew up and struck his throat causing asphyxiation. *August 10, 1979 - The 16- year-old victim and his brother were cleaning a 55-foot deep well. The victim noticed his brother in trouble at the bottom of the well. He carried his brother out but then fell back- wards into the well and drowned. -------- SPECIALIZING IN ALL TYPES OF FARM INSURANCE 0 Free Consultation @ * Farm Liability * Equipment * Produce Coverage EMME RSON INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED * Livestock Mortality Coverage 193 QUEEN ST., PORT.PERRY, ONT. LOB 1NO (416) 985-7306