Grade 9 Agricultural Studies

Index

Content Topic Page

Chapter Module General introduction
1 General farming, production factors and Agricultural
resources
1 Agricultural production factors
2 Conservation of natural resources
3 Farming methods
4 Farm planning: components and fences

2 Safety and communication

1 Communication and safety on the farm and
workshop

3 Tools, Equipment and Machines and alternative energy

1 Farm implements
2 Workshop tools
3 Alternative energy
4 Plant production & Horticulture
1 Soil as medium for production
2 Soil cultivation
3 Requirements for optimal plant growth
4 Alternative planting mediums
5 Manipulation to increase production
6 Economic importance of crops
7 Weed pest and disease control
5 Animal production
1 Economic importance and breeds
2 Requirements for optimal animal production
6 Business planning practices
1 Basic SWOT analysis
2 Basic recording concepts
7 Marketing and price setting
1 Basic marketing concepts
2 Basic principle of supply and demand
8 Harvesting
1 Examples of harvesting and storage of crops in
your area
9 Processing and value adding
1 Application of processing and value adding to
produced crops

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 1

CHAPTER 2
Module 1: Communication and safety on the farm and
workshop
In South Africa, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the OHS Act) provides
regulations for the following:
o The health and safety of all the people in the workplace.
o The activities of people at work.
The OHS Act applies to all employers and workers. Everyone using or entering areas
where work is done must know about the dangers and hazards in the area.

General Farm and workshop Safety

Machinery such as tractors and power tools, pose a great injury risk on the farm. It is
important to be safety conscious when dealing with any job that requires the use of machinery
and tools. Statistics show that most machinery related accidents occur as the result of human
negligence. Errors include taking shortcuts to save time, failure to read the operators manual,
ignoring a warning, improper or lack of instruction and failure to follow safety rules.
The most utilized pieces of equipment around the farm are tractors, trucks, wagons, mowers,
spreaders, grinders, blowers, augers, post hole diggers, shredders, balers, rakes, combines,
and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
The workshop tools add further to the injury list. No matter how different they are in structure,
they all, if used improperly or carelessly, can be fatal.

Fig1: Farm fatalities involving tractors. Fig2: Machinery related fatalities

Objective

Learner should understand the OHS act and able to apply general safety rules in real life
situations.

Upon completion you should be able to answer questions and apply workshop and farm
safety rules.
 Safety on the farm and in the workshop.

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 2

Keywords/terms and concepts – Not all words or terminology is listed in the table, some
words should be highlighted by the educator. Educators can develop word searches,
crossword puzzles and matching Column a and b to strengthen terms and terminology.
(See https://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/ )

Key term Meaning

Asphyxiation asphyxiation is a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to the body that
arises from abnormal breathing

The following are a set of basic workshop rules applicable to your school’s workshop and a
normal workshop. These rules are not necessarily ALL the rules. So, when you work in a
workshop, make sure that you know what their rules are.
General workshop rules and precautions

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE Requirement/Precaution when applicable

- Buildings where machinery and power tools are stored should be
Workshop location and located far enough away from structures that house livestock and hay
surface in case of fire.
- Keys should always be removed from all equipment or machinery to
prevent children or unauthorized people from starting them.
- Floor surfaces should be level and smooth, free of bumps and
protruding rocks.
- Machinery storage buildings should not be used to store debris.
Always before working - Keep the work area neat and clean
and during work - All tools and accessory equipment should be kept picked up and
stored in their proper place, e.g., air hoses, oil cans, spare tires, jacks.
Workshop entrance and - Enter and leave the workshop in an orderly manner
ventilation - - Doors of the sheds should be wide enough to accommodate width of
widest machinery
- Make sure there are enough working lights in the work area
- Exits should be clearly marked.
- Doors should be locked to keep children out
- Adequate ventilation to allow the removal of poisonous/harmful
gasses
Clothing inside workshop - Use the correct PPE when working in the workshop and on the farm

Workshop/farm - Use the correct tools for the task,

Before work: - Do not throw or misuse tools,
Handling, - Clean and store tools in the correct place after using them
- Report missing or damaged tools.
- Inspect electrical tools to make sure that their cables and plugs are in
a good condition before using them.
Workshop /Farm - Never play the fool or joke around in the workshop
While working. - Never throw tools down on the workbench.
Use tools safely: - Always ensure garden equipment is visible and in an upright position.
- Use cooling liquids and lubricants, PPE and eye protection when
cutting threads, sawing, drilling or grinding.
- Keep sharp points away from the body. Chisel away from your body.
- Be aware of points where your hand or fingers can be pinched when
tightening nuts and bolts.
- Use tools how they are intended to be used.
- Make sure the workpiece is well secured in a vice or clamp when
cutting, sawing, drilling or grinding.
- Always keep the sharp ends of tools pointing down when moving

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 3

 around
- Use safety curtains to protect other people from welding rays. Use
goggles when using the grinder
- Keep floors dry and clean
- Use extraction fans in dusty areas.
After working - Always put tools down carefully. Regularly lubricate and clean
machinery like drills and bandsaws.
- Inspect electrical tools to make sure that their cables and plugs are in
a good condition before using them.
- Always clean the floors and tidy up after work has been completed,
after completing a task and at the end of the day.
- Place each tool back in its place at the end of the lesson
Maintenance of - Protect the surface of the drill press by drilling on a piece of wood.
equipment - Lubricate the moving parts of tools and machines.
- Cover tools with a thin layer of oil before putting them away to protect
them from rust
- Report broken tools, like hammer shafts, that need repair
immediately.
Electrical and fuel - Fuel storage tanks should preferably be located below ground, and a
minimum of 40 feet from the nearest structure. Fuel cannot be stored
in the same structure as machinery or power tools. Tanks should be
properly vented. If above ground, the area around the tank should be
free of litter, weeds and any fuel spills that could aid in starting or
accelerating the spread of a fire. Fuel tanks should be adequately
protected from being struck by machinery. An approved fire
extinguisher should be located near all fuel pumps and tanks.
- Electrical lines coming into the building should be high enough to
facilitate equipment passing underneath.
- Electrical systems in machine sheds should be sufficient for the power
tools and equipment that will require the use of electric current.
- Electric outlets should be of the three-prong grounded type.

There is a saying on the farm “prevention is better than cure”. The same applies to the injuries
that can happen on a farm. If we can recognize potentially hazardous areas on machinery, we
can treat them with caution and with safety in mind.

These areas include.

Area Where Danger Injury
Pinch points two rotating surfaces meet Extremities can be caught in resulting injury is usually
such as feed rollers, gears or pinch points directly or be amputation.
a belt running around a pulley drawn in by loose fitting
clothing that has become
entangled in the rotating parts
Shear edges of two surfaces come on shrubbery shears or grain resulting injury is usually
points together in a manner to cut a augers amputation.
softer material placed between
the surfaces
Cutting designed to cut such as blades move with a rapid resulting injury is usually
points mowers and harvesters. motion often unseen by the amputation.
eye
Crush objects are joined; either with Fingers and hands are often Numerous fatalities occur
points both ends moving towards injured by crushing between a when people helping the
each other or with one being draw bar and wagon hitch. operator or the operator
stationary him/herself is crushed
between pieces
Springs A spring is compressed, When springs break, they Various
'energy' is 'stored' within the explode with great force and
spring. When the spring is can inflict serious damage.
expanded, the energy is Ensure regular inspection.
released. The larger the spring
the greater the amount of
energy produced.

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 4

Wrap point PTO and turning points See later

Causes of injuries on the farm.

 chemicals – pesticides and herbicides can cause injuries such as burns, respiratory
illness or poisoning.
 confined spaces – such as silos, water tanks, milk vats and manure pits may contain
unsafe atmospheres, which can cause poisoning or suffocation.
 electricity – dangers include faulty switches, cords, machinery, or overhead power
lines and can result in electric shock.
 heights – falls from ladders, rooftops, silos, and windmills are a major cause of injury
such as broken bones and sometimes death.
 machinery – hazards include tractors without roll-over protection structures (ROPS),
power take-off (PTO) shafts, chainsaws, augers, motorbikes, and machinery with
unguarded moving parts injuries such as .
 noise pollution – noise from livestock, machinery and guns can affect your hearing.
 vehicles – crashes or falls from motorbikes, two-wheel and quad bikes, tractors and
horses can result in major injuries.
 water – drowning can occur in as little as five centimetres of water. Dams, lakes,
ponds, rivers, channels, tanks, drums, and creeks are all hazards. Young children are
particularly at risk.
 weather – hazards include sunburn, heat stroke, dehydration, and hypothermia.

Work related injuries such as

• Slipping on wet surfaces and tripping over equipment, causing:
- Bruises
- Cuts
- Sprains
- Broken bones
 Falling objects can cause bruises, cuts and broken bones.
 Working with the wrong tools, workpieces with sharp edges, and high-speed revolving
equipment can cause cuts and lacerations.
 Looking directly at welding in progress can cause arc eyes.

While Operating Machinery.

 Tractor overturns are the leading cause of
death on the farm.
 A roll-overprotective structure or ROPS is
designed to prevent workers from being
crushed underneath the tractor and save lives.
See illustration below of a frontend loader with
a roll overprotective structure.

Follow these steps to prevent the likelihood of

rolling over while on a tractor.
- avoid operating tractors near ditches.
- Terrain changes and hard to see holes
can increase your chances of tipping over.
- It is also important that you turn slowly,
especially when on a sloped surface.
- Turn downhill if you feel like you are losing
control.

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 5

 - When carrying a load, such as a hay bale, keep it low to the ground. Do not overload
the trailer.
 Only one person should be on a tractor at a time, extra riders can be thrown off and
run over.
 It is a good practice to continually look before moving the tractor and make sure that
there are no children near the farm equipment.
 Keep a safe distance from moving equipment and parts.

ATV’s are now used on the farm as it is quicker and easier to manoeuvre. It is important to
remember that it is not a toy and to challenge each other in a drag race. The same safety
applies to them than any other farm machinery or equipment.

Power Take-Off Shafts (PTO)

The extremely high-speed rotation of the PTO can lead to a wide range of injuries including
amputations or death. In fact, PTOs are a leading cause of lost limbs for farmers. Often
farmers become entangled because of their loose clothing, hair, jewellery, and/or boot laces

Protected PTO shaft of a tractor to Simulation of PTO danger. An overall

prevent injury. sleeve caught by an open PTO.
Aspects to consider in preventing PTO injury,
 inspect the shaft before operation,
 make sure the shield is always in place,
 avoid wearing lose clothing or other items and keep a safe distance when operating
the PTO.
 Make sure the PTO is turned off before dismounting the tractor.
 Lastly, never step over a PTO; take the extra time to walk around it to prevent injury.

NB - Respect the equipment

It is important to note that operating any type of machinery can be potentially dangerous
and poses many risks to farm workers.

Safety on the farm does not only relate to machines and vehicles, but animals can also be just
as dangerous as machines.

Livestock Handling and safety

Wrong livestock handling is one of the leading causes of injury on a farm.
 Knowing animal behaviour and natural tendencies, a worker can
reduce stress to the animal and simultaneously, prevent injury to him
or herself.

Watch the video on

Stockmanship

The following points should be kept in mind when working with livestock:

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 6

  Larger animals are usually more dangerous than smaller ones.
 Mothers will protect their young from danger.
 Males are typically more aggressive than females.
 Animals are naturally territorial and can be frightened, become aggressive, and behave
unexpectedly.
 Loud noises are frightening to livestock and should be reduced when handling
livestock.
 When possible, avoid cornering an animal. This tends to make them feel threatened
and that increases the likelihood of being injured.
 Extra precaution should be taken when approaching cattle horses, cattle, or mules
from behind.

 The blind spot for these animals is directly behind them so, it is important to remember
you should never approach the animal from behind, Instead, approaching them from
the side or front is a much better practice.
 It is a good idea to design an escape plan in case you find yourself in a dangerous
situation while working near an animal.

Preventing injury on the farm and in the workshop when carrying and lifting material
 Use proper lifting techniques:
o Bend using your knees, not your back!
o Do not twist your back when carrying something. Instead move your feet to turn in
a different direction.
o Keep the object you are lifting close to your body.
o Push a load rather than pull it.
o Walk slowly.
 Applying the general safety rules and using the correct PPE makes it possible to avoid
most of these injuries.

Module questions
1. Name 7 causes of injuries on the farm and the injury each is responsible for.
(14)
2. Discuss 5 potential areas found on machineries that can cause injury and
briefly discuss each.
(10)
3. List 5 precautions that applied to the vegetable garden. (5)
4. List 8 precautions that apply to working in the workshop. (8)
5. What precautions should be taken when working with a tractor? (5)
6. Discuss 6 important aspects that should be kept in mind when working with
livestock? (6)

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES GRADE 9 7