Every year, thousands of farm workers are injured and hundreds more die in farming accidents. According to the National Safety Council, agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation. Be aware of the hazards and safety practices on a farm, especially as a young worker.

Common Hazards

• Tractors are involved in a high proportion of farm fatalities and injuries.
• Struck-by – Farm machinery can cause accidents, but you can also get hit by livestock.
• Chemicals and pesticides can enter your body in many ways, including inhalation, contact with skin and clothes, and accidental ingestion (such as eating with unwashed hands).
• Organic dust comes from hay, grain, fuel chips, straw and livestock. It includes molds, pollens, bacteria, pesticides, chemicals and feed, bedding and animal particles.
• Overexertion – Prolonged reaching, bending and lifting can lead to muscle aches, strains and sprains.
• Confined Spaces – You are at risk of being overcome by gases when entering sites without proper ventilation, such as a manure pit, silo or grain bin. Workers entering a grain bin being emptied are also at risk of being crushed or suffocated by flowing grain.
• Electrocution is one of the most overlooked hazards of farm work. The most common cause of electrocutions are portable grain augers, oversized wagons, large combines and other tall equipment that comes into contact with overhead power lines.
• Falls are the most common accidents in agriculture. Falls of just 12 feet can kill you. Many occur because of slips and trips that can be avoided by wearing proper shoes.

Safety Solutions

You are responsible for following ’s safe work practices, which include the following:

• If you are under age 16, you cannot: operate a tractor and certain types of machinery; handle certain classes of chemicals; work inside a fruit, forage or grain storage structure; work in a manure pit; work on a ladder or scaffold over 20 feet high; and/or work in a yard or stall with a bull, boar or stud horse.
• Receive proper training before operating any machinery.

For more information about the Farm and Agriculture team here at Dimond Bros. Insurance please contact Scott Jensen at scott.jensen@dimondbros.com

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.