By Kacie Hulshof, Associate Editor
Ag Daily
As a farmer’s daughter and farmer’s wife, I have long been aware of the dangers that come with being in the agriculture industry. However, on top of the typical day to day dangers of the job — entanglement, moving equipment, grain bin entrapment, incorrect use of tools, among so much more — I am burdened with an extra worry when it comes to my family’s safety.
My dad, Andrew Gaines, was born without the ability to smell. While that is probably the last disability most people think of (if they even think of it at all), it is one that has many dangers in the agriculture industry and throughout his daily life. Many people may not realize that something so minor as lacking a sense of smell can amplify the dangers around you. However, people without that sense have more difficulty detecting fires or recognizing the warning signs of poisonous fumes, leaking gas, or food that has spoiled.
Anosmia, as it is called, is the complete or partial loss of smell (as opposed to the temporary loss of smell associated with the coronavirus). It can either be hereditary or due to an injury. Unfortunately, my dad is in the first category — according to his memory, he has never been able to smell — along with one of my aunts and my older sister.