Importance of Communication in Your Operation

Since 1944, the National Safety Council has promoted the third week of September as National Farm Safety and Health Week. Fall can be one of the busiest and most dangerous times of year for those in the agriculture industry, including manure application operations. Actively taking steps to minimize known risks can play a large part in operational safety and making sure every crew member goes home at the end of the job. One way to minimize risks while applying manure is to know the importance of communication while on the job.

Whether you’re using a two-way radio or cell phone, it’s vital to make sure everyone is on the same page at the same time. Every person on the dragline operation should know what is happening on the job. Whatever mode of communication you use, inspect its functionality before it's needed for an emergency. Keep chargers, cables, and headsets in an area where everyone has easy access to them.

During critical actions, communication with the team should be kept to a minimum. Tell your team what you plan to do, and then execute it with full focus on your task. Unnecessary chatter can be a distraction when you’re firing up, shutting down, laying hose bowties, and more. If there is a language barrier on the crew, communication does not lose its significance. It’s a two-way street, and all crew members need to find a way to bridge the gap. If you don’t have time to learn each other’s language, translation apps can translate relatively accurately in real time.

Communication with your crew is just one way to reduce the safety risks in your dragline operation. Find an upcoming Pump School date to learn more about the importance of communication in safety, operation efficiency, and to talk with our experts and other applicators.