Agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in our nation.
The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides many resources with safety guidelines and training information from Agricultural Operations, Heat Illness Prevents, Farm Safety, Grain Handling and Tree Care.
“Farmworkers are at high risk for fatalities and injuries, work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure. OSHA has standards that cover agricultural operations, information on solutions to common agricultural hazards, and other resources such as publications to help employers and employees create and maintain safe and healthy work environments.”
OSHA Agriculture Safety Publications
Agricultural Operations
- Agriculture Safety: Safe Tractors, Save Lives Magnet
- All-Terrain Vehicle Hazards during Farm Work. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3758), (2015). (Spanish)
- Backing Up Farm Vehicles and Equipment Safely. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3733), (2014). (Spanish)
- Agriculture: Protecting Farmworkers from Tractor and Harvester Hazards. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3706), (2014). (Spanish
- Protecting Workers from Tripod Orchard Ladder Injuries. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3705), (2014). (Spanish)
- Safe Use of Tripod Orchard Ladders. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3728), (2014). (Spanish)
- Protecting Workers from Tractor Hazards. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3835), (2015). (Spanish)
Heat Illness Prevention
- Heat Illness Prevention Training Guide, A Lesson Plan for Employers. OSHA Publication 3437, (2011). (Spanish)
- Heat Stress. OSHA QuickCard™. (Spanish (OSHA Publication 3417, (2014)) | Vietnamese (OSHA Publication 3389, (2011).
- Heat Outreach Wallet Card. OSHA Publication 3556, (2012). (Spanish (OSHA Publication 3565, (2012)) | Portuguese (OSHA Publication 3663, (2013).
- Heat Safety Illustrated, Low-Literacy (Construction/Agriculture). OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3422), (2011). (Spanish (OSHA Publication 3423, (2011).
- Heat Illness: Protecting Workers from the Effects of Heat. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication FS-3743), (2014).
- Heat Illness: Stopping for Water Keeps You Going, Community Poster. OSHA Publication 3435, (2011).
- Heat Hazards: Working Outdoors in Warm Climates. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2005).
- Heat Illness: Health Effects of Heat Worksite, Training Poster. OSHA Publication 3431, (2011).
Farm Safety
- Confined Space Entry on a Farm: Fatal Facts. OSHA Publication 3939, (2018).
- Cotton Press: Fatal Facts. OSHA Publication 3679, (2013).
- Emergency Preparedness for Farmworkers. OSHA Publication 3870, (2016).
- Farmworker Electrocution: Fatal Facts. OSHA Publication 3817, (2015).
- Green Tobacco Sickness. OSHA Publication 3765, (2015).
- Personal Protective Equipment. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3603), (2000). (Spanish | Portuguese (2010))
Grain Handling
- Combustible Dust Explosions. OSHA Fact Sheet.
- Dangers of Engulfment and Suffocation in Grain Bins Hazard Alert
- Grain Handling Guide. OSHA Publication 3103, (1996).
- Grain Handling Safety. OSHA Wallet Card (Publication 3329), (2011).
- Grain Bins: Worker Entry into Grain Storage Bins. OSHA Fact Sheet.
- Chemical Grain Fumigant. (January 6, 2015).
Tree Care
- Solutions for Tree Care Hazards (OSHA 3940 – 2018)
- Tree Care Work Hazards (EPUB | MOBI). OSHA Hazard Bulletin (Publication HB-3731, (2014). (Spanish | EPUB | MOBI) Publication HB-3740, (2014).
- Tree Care Work – Know the Hazards. OSHA Publication 3752, (December 2014). (Spanish).
- Tree Trimming and Removal. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3301), (2005).
- Tree Trimming. OSHA Fact Sheet.
Protecting Our Children on the Farm Should be a #1 Priority
With the agricultural worksite being described as “on the farm”, it is the only work location in the U.S. where children at any age can be present. While raising crops and livestock is a critical job, we also have to take priority in protecting agricultural workers of all ages, including children and youth. According to OSHA statistics, more than 2 million youth under the age of 20 are exposed to farm-related safety hazards.
Visit OSHA Youth in Agriculture that describes common agricultural hazards and offers potential safety solutions that both employers and youth workers can utilize to keep safety a priority in the agricultural workplace.
Additional information and SAFETY EDUCATION resources can be found at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Safety Education Website where you can connect with safety specialist who can visit youth groups, classrooms, farms, community groups and others to educate people on various agriculture safety-related topics.
According to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety the top 3 causes of fatalities and injuries are:
- Fatal:
- Machinery
- Motor Vehicles
- Drowning
- Non-Fatal:
- Falls
- Animals
- Machinery/Vehicles
Every day, about 33 children are injured in an agriculture-related accident. The number of ag-related youth worker fatalities is higher than all other industries combined. Many agricultural work-related injuries and deaths are associated with children doing work that does not match their developmental level.
Additional Links and Resources:
Shared resources:
- Mississippi State University Extension Service Farm Safety Information
- https://msfb.org/safety/
- https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/cattle-business-mississippi-articles/cattle-business-mississippi-articles-landing-page/mca_apr2010.pdf
- National Safety Council
- Progressive Agriculture Safety Day
- Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
- Southeast Center for Agriculture Safety
- Rural Health and Agriculture Safety on the Rural Health Information Hub
