On this episode of the WorkSAFE Podcast, we sit down with Brad Minor, Senior Safety and Risk Consultant, to explore the most common hazards in the farming industry. He sheds light on how to stay productive and safe, both on the farm and in the field.
Farming is an industry that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Farmers kickstart the journey many essential goods – including poultry, produce, and grains – make from the field to the table.
While farming is the backbone of many communities and economies, it is also one of the most dangerous professions. From heavy machinery and hazardous chemicals to unpredictable weather conditions, farm workers face safety risks at every turn.
Listen to this episode of the WorkSAFE Podcast, or read the show notes below.
Why is farming such a hazardous industry?
Any agricultural business is made up of multiple moving parts. From selecting the right equipment and chemicals to hiring the right people, farmers often run every aspect of their business. They have to make key decisions to keep operations afloat, especially if they are running a small or family-owned business.
Brad points out that many farmers do the same routines and processes every year. They may not know that safer alternatives are available – or even be able to afford them. “It’s a constant balance though, cost versus benefit for the farmer as well as any other business,” Minor explained. “Safety is not always seen as an immediate benefit, and that can be a hard sell for those who have not really realized the risk and injuries that can occur.”
Unfortunately, this often means someone has to get seriously hurt before safety in a particular area is recognized and prioritized. “It’s so important to talk about safety in the farming industry, just because fatal and serious injuries occur regularly,” he added. Farm employees encounter so many hazards daily. “If we can help folks recognize those hazards around them and consider safety, we may be able to help save a life for them.”
What are common farming safety hazards?
Workplace incidents affect both farmers and their employees equally. Long-term farmers can fall prey to the idea that because no one has ever been injured before, they are working safely. In reality, they could be near the end of a line of near misses.
Everything from last-minute harvests and incoming weather impacts employees, even more so if they are new on the job. Minor finds that most injuries occur when working with chemicals or equipment. Major risks appear in:
Auger use
Augers are machines used to move grain and seed. With frequent use, jams are common. Guards are removed to fix the jam, and to make things quicker next time, aren’t replaced. This makes it easy for a pant leg, shoelace, or hoodie to get caught, pulling someone into the machinery.
Bin maintenance
Employees may climb into bins or other storage containers to ‘walk down the grain’, or free up a clog. Air pockets may form below. These air pockets suck employees down into what’s known as an ‘engulfment’, causing them to sink into the grain and suffocate from the pressure.
Handling of pesticides and herbicides
Chemicals are used to treat and protect crops throughout the year. Wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to prevent injury and illness from long-term exposure.
Equipment use
Heavy vehicles are common and necessary in farm operations. For example, tractors, combines, and sprayers may be used daily. Employees working on the ground expect drivers to see them, but this isn’t always the case. Hi-vis gear and radio use is critical to keep ground employees visible to those up high.
Working alone
One of the most common – and dangerous – situations to be in on a farm is working alone. In the event of an injury, it may be nearly impossible to call for help.
Rural areas may mean longer emergency response times
Time and innovation create new rescue methods. For example, a rescue tube now makes it possible to save a trapped farm worker from a grain engulfment. However, many farm properties are located in rural areas. This makes it difficult to get a quick emergency response.
Minor finds that sometimes a response from emergency medical services (EMS) may take several minutes. In some cases, it takes several hours. In addition, even if an EMS crew can respond quickly, they may not always have the equipment needed. A longer response time and lack of equipment turn what could have been a rescue situation into a fatal one.
Safety innovations in the farming industry
“The most efficient and safe farm operations tend to be those that focus on industry trends and innovation,” Minor shared. “Not only with their crop and machinery but with staff and safety equipment as well.” The latest innovations include:
- Drone use. Some farmers are using drones to remove direct employee exposure to pesticides. They spray crops in place of larger machine sprayers.
- Driverless tractors. Similar to cars of today that engage in self-driving mode, newer tractors remove employees from behind the wheel.
- Robot maintenance. New technology works to prevent engulfment in grain bins. Rather than ‘walking the grain’, a small robot moves across the surface of the grain continuously to reduce air pockets – and the need for a person to take the risk.
These innovations can come with a hefty price tag. This can be prohibitive for smaller operations. “The most obvious barrier is cost, of course. There’s no way around that,” Minor pointed out. “But then also is just the knowledge and understanding that those options are available.”
For him, the most important takeaway is knowing that there are safety solutions out there, no matter how simple or sophisticated. More importantly, knowing it’s okay to change, especially to make things safer.
3 simple steps to ensure workplace safety
Plan ahead
For people who work outside, weather is a major consideration. Planning ahead for inclement weather is essential. Monitor conditions for planned work days. Extreme cold and extreme heat are both threats that can quickly escalate into injury and illness. Wear appropriate PPE and plan for breaks to either warm up or cool down. For example, long-sleeved dry-fit tops and hats with large brims shade the body from direct sunlight exposure.
Minor also strongly recommends never to take risks with lightning. Download lightning detection apps and determine where the nearest place of shelter is. Keep spare parts on hand during busy seasons, to prevent getting stuck in a field or far from home in the event equipment breaks down.
Enforce simple safety requirements
Simple requirements make the biggest difference. When operating farm machinery, require seat belts and minimize distractions. In a rollover situation, injuries are often minimal where the driver was strapped in properly. Lockout tagout is an essential process for farm machinery when not in use.
Minor also recommends restricting access where needed. “If you’re walking down the grain or if you’re cleaning out the remaining contents, if it’s necessary to get in there, you need to wear a harness and secure it above yourself,” he added.
For farmers who do work alone, let someone know when you are leaving, where you are going, and when you plan to be back. This is especially important if you cannot be reached by cell phone.
Train employees in basic first aid
Slow emergency response is a reality for many rural workplaces. But Minor shares a few essential steps for employers to prepare for this situation. First, he recommends calculating how far the nearest EMS team is from the farm. This gives farmers an idea of how long medical help may take to arrive.
Then, he recommends that farmers take first aid training – and involve their employees. Basic skills, such as CPR and stopping serious bleeding, are invaluable when help isn’t immediately available. A tourniquet may not only save a limb, but a life.
“Just be able to protect yourself, especially if you happen to be on your own,” he explained. “Ideally, you’ll have somebody else working kind of alongside you or maybe within the vicinity who can also check on you, but that’s not always the case.”
One quick tip to start using today
One cost-free safety measure farmers can take today is reviewing and understanding operator’s manuals and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) . Both contain essential information – manuals on how to properly use equipment, and SDSs on how to safely handle chemicals and pesticides.
It can be tempting to skip over them and go straight to work. But these resources are the front line against risk exposure. If you no longer have the original, Minor advises that they can be found online, or replaced through contacting your dealer.
“I would say make sure that employees don’t operate any equipment or handle chemicals or perform any tasks without proper training and clear understanding of the hazards presented to them so that they know how to do those tasks safely before doing them,” he finished. “A lot of times you’ll hire an employee that maybe has worked on a farm or maybe has been at around farming all their life, but they haven’t been around your farm. So make sure that they understand what your specific expectations are and how to operate your equipment because not all are the same.”