Farm worker injuries are a major problem in agricultural settings, as employees are frequently exposed to various occupational risks. Accidents, exposure to toxic chemicals, repetitive action, or long hours of physically demanding labor may all result in these injuries.
TYPES
There are many types of farm worker injuries. These include:
- Tractor overturn accidents
- Falls
- Entanglements and amputations
- Suffocation
- Burns
- Toxic exposure
- Animal injuries
- Vehicle accidents
Risk Factors of Farm Worker Injuries
Several variables influence the causes and risk factors of farm worker injuries. Here are some of them:
- Age: Injury rates are higher among children under the age of 15 and people over the age of 65.
- Medical care: In rural locations surrounding fields, hospitals, and emergency medical treatment are generally inaccessible.
- Protective equipment: Protective equipment, such as tractor seat belts and personal protection equipment (such as boots, coveralls, gloves, goggles, aprons, hats, and face shields), might greatly minimize farm accidents.
- Machinery and equipment: Most farm accidents and deaths are caused by equipment. Accidents may be avoided by using proper machine guarding and following manufacturer instructions for equipment maintenance.
Practices to Make Farm Workers Safe
The following preventative measures and safety procedures should be followed to reduce farm worker injuries:
- Consult your state’s agricultural safety expert for a farm risk assessment and a staff induction package.
- Make safe play environments for your kids.
- Routinely service and repair all machinery, infrastructure, and equipment.
- Farm systems should be simplified to decrease misunderstanding and complexity.
- Develop a farm safety culture by making safety a regular part of your farming business’s interactions. Provide everybody with their own PPE and a location for clean storage when not in use.
- Recognize that “better beats perfect” in terms of safety.
Support and Assistance for Farm Worker Injuries
Farm workers who are injured may seek help and support via various methods. Workers’ compensation benefits for healthcare costs and wage loss, compensation for disability for a long time, guidance and mental health services, assistance programs to help with financial difficulties, advocacy and support from rights for employees companies, and supportive community networks are all part of this. These measures ensure injured farmers get medical care, financial support, emotional support, and assistance in navigating the intricate processes related to their injury.
