Employers in the agriculture industry must ensure that they have adequate safety measures in place to keep these workers safe. Around the United States each day, approximately 100 agricultural workers suffer an injury that results in them having to miss work time.
Farming work has a host of challenges that must be addressed. Some of the more common issues include injuries related to:
- Overuse
- Heat
- Equipment
- Chemicals
- Heat and weather exposure
- Falls
- Sanitation
- Vehicles
The safety plan that agricultural companies set must be specific to the type of work that’s being done. This means that workers who are out in the fields during the cooler months of the year need to know how to mitigate the potential injures that come from cold, but those who work in the summer months need to know how to avoid heat stroke.
Employers and workers alike also need to consider the dangers that come with the equipment necessary to get the job done. Moving parts on tractors and other equipment must be respected. Rollovers of tractors is a major issue that can be reduced with proper caging installed on farm vehicles.
Body mechanics, fall prevention, sanitation standards and proper usage of chemicals also must be included in the safety plan. All of these factors must be discussed with the agricultural workers, so they know the protocol. Employers should also hold refreshers about these matters. This can be accomplished by taking safety pauses or timeouts before the workday starts.
Injured agricultural workers who have to miss time from work need to get their medical bills and lost wages covered. These workers should learn their legal options so they can take the necessary steps.