Farm Health & Safety

Each year more than 130 workers are killed in farm related accidents, with more than 21,000 reported farm related injuries.

Farm health and safety address the significant hazards on agricultural operations, including machinery, chemicals, livestock, confined storage facilities, extreme weather, wildlife and child safety.

Key safety measures involve using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), regular maintenance of machinery, proper chemical handling and training on safe practices, first aid training and developing a strong farm safety culture.

Beyond physical safety, mental well-being is crucial, with advice to manage stress and utilize available mental health support services.

*Food preparation, handling and processing are also major safety issues and will be covered in a separate resource section.

Common Hazards on a Farm

Machinery and Equipment: Tractors, combines, and other heavy machinery pose risks of overturns, entanglement, and amputations.
Chemicals: Pesticides, fertilizers, and other substances can lead to poisoning, burns, and respiratory issues.
Confined Spaces: Grain bins, silos, and manure pits can cause suffocation or exposure to toxic gases.
Livestock: Animals can be unpredictable, leading to injuries from bites, kicks, or being pinned.
Environmental Factors: Extreme heat & cold, dust & noise can cause heatstroke, respiratory illness, hearing loss; injury from wildlife
Falls: Working at heights, such as on ladders or barn lofts, increases the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Physical Strain: The demanding and repetitive nature of farm work can cause musculoskeletal disorders, particularly back pain.
Animal Diseases: Handling animals puts workers at risk of infectious diseases that can spread from animals to humans.

Implementing Farm Health and Safety Measures

Safety Culture: Foster an environment where safety is a normal and frequent part of farm conversations and operations.
Machinery Maintenance: Perform routine servicing and repairs on all equipment and infrastructure to prevent accidents.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Ensure all workers have and correctly use appropriate PPE (masks, gloves, and hearing protection)
Training: Provide regular training on machinery operation, first aid, manual handling, and hazardous chemical handling.
Risk Assessment: Conduct farm risk assessments with state-certified farm safety advisors to identify and mitigate hazards.
Child Safety: Create designated safe play areas for children on the farm to keep them away from hazardous areas.
Mental Health Support: Seek and utilize confidential mental health services to manage the stress & isolation that can be part of farm life.

UGA Agricultural Safety: Preventing Injuries

Most farm injuries and fatalities are preventable when you adhere to safe operating practices. The following are general guidelines for improved safety on the farm. Web resources for further recommendations and information are provided.

OSHA Agricultural Operations & Hazards

Farm workers are exposed to numerous safety, health, environmental, biological, and respiratory hazards. These include hazards related to grain bins and silos, hazard communication of chemicals, noise, musculoskeletal injuries, heat, and others. Learn about controls and solutions related to these and other hazards.

Rural Health Information Hud – Farm Safety

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States and is different from many industries in that it can present hazards to people not actively working in the industry such as family members living on the farm and visitors. Additionally, hazards may exist for emergency medical services personnel and other healthcare professionals as they provide assistance and care to victims of farm incidents. Hazards off the farm are also a concern, particularly for the public sharing roads with equipment such as tractors.

Think F.A.S.T. - Farm & Ag Safety Training Program

The Think F.A.S.T. (Farm & Ag Safety Training) program is an initiative from Farm Bureau designed to proactively address on-farm safety concerns for youth. The program materials are free to members and non-members and are tailored for audiences 14- to 17-years old and focus on general safety, leadership, and critical thinking skills applied to technical and agriculture-specific contexts.

OSHA Academy – Agricultural Safety

Agriculture is a major industry in the U.S. and includes growing and harvesting crops such as corn, cotton, soybeans, and fruit, as well as livestock, poultry, and other animals to provide products such as beef, chicken eggs, dairy, and wool.

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.

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

AgriSafe Network - Protecting People Who Feed the World

AgriSafe was formed by rural nurses who believed that together they could improve the health and safety of farmers and ranchers. Today, AgriSafe builds the competency of health and safety professionals to deliver exceptional occupational agricultural health care.

NY Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health

This infographic illustrates many of the root causes of accidents on the

farm and the actions you can take to avoid them.

Chainsaw Safety

Chainsaw safety training in Georgia is offered through various organizations in Georgia. Courses include classroom instruction, hands-on demonstrations, and in-depth training on topics like proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safe operating procedures, cutting techniques for felling, limbing, and bucking, and maintenance.

FISTA

FISTA provides every participant with hands-on chainsaw experience. Using current technology, tools and cutting techniques, FISTA customizes the training to fit your needs and can be conducted in any location across the country and tailored to meet your organization’s specific needs.

Georgia Arborist Association

This course is created to educate participants on chainsaw use and safety.

UGA Chainsaw Safety

A UGA publication that looks at chainsaw safety and preventing common tree felling accidents.