National Farm Safety and Health Week

The 2022 data for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America with 417 fatalities that year.

Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed as such by each sitting U.S. President since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.

National Farm Safety and Health Week is led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council.

SOURCE: umash.umn.edu

Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members (who often share the work and live on the premises) are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries.

In 1990, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed an extensive agricultural safety and health program to address the high risks of injuries and illnesses experienced by workers and families in agriculture. NIOSH supports extramural research and prevention programs at 12 Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health. These programs conduct research on injuries associated with agriculture, as well as pesticide exposure, respiratory health, musculoskeletal disorders, underserved populations, and mental health.

Who’s at Risk?

Approximately 2.1 million full-time workers were employed in production agriculture in the US in 2020.

Approximately 1.4 to 2.1 million hired crop workers are employed annually on crop farms in the United States.

An estimated 893,000 youth under 20 years of age lived on farms in 2014, with just over half (51%) also performing work on the farm. In addition to the youth who live on farms, an estimated 266,000 youth were hired to work on US farms in 2014.

Fatalities

In 2021, workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry experienced one of the highest fatal injury rates at 20 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, compared to a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers for all U.S. industries.

Transportation incidents, which include tractor overturns and roadway crashes, were the leading cause of death for these farmers and farm workers. Other leading causes were contact with objects and equipment, violence by other persons or animals, and falls, slips, trips.

In 2021, almost two-thirds (65%) of deaths in the ag industry occurred to workers 55 years of age and older.

Injuries

In 2020, there were 11,880 injuries in agricultural production that required days away from work, however, there is well-known underreporting of injuries in this industry.

From 2014-2015, 42% of all hired crop worker injuries were classified as a sprain or strain.

In 2014, an estimated 12,000 youth were injured on farms; 4,000 of these injuries were due to farm work.

SOURCE: cdc.gov/niosh

National Farm Safety Week reminds us to continue to keep our farms safe with these important and helpful safety tips.

1) Have another person present when loading or unloading hay or equipment.

2) Avoid breathing harmful fumes or vapors.

3) Remove junk piles and store raw materials safely.

4) Establish an emergency water supply of at least 2,500 gallons.

5) New hay should be checked frequently for possible heating.

6) Never permit smoking in barns or near any flammable materials.

7) Fuel should never be stored inside a building.

8) Equip farm buildings with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.