03/19/2008

Every year, agricultural workers are injured or killed in farm-related accidents. Although injuries and deaths are occasionally caused by something like an erratically behaving animal, more often, accidents are caused by unsafe practices or someone taking unwarranted risks. To learn more about the type and magnitude of adult injuries in agriculture, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health launched the Agricultural Injury and Health Initiative. As part of the initiative, the National Agricultural Statistics Services, Agricultural Statistics Board conducted a survey of farming operations across the United States; the 2006 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey was released in January of this year. Here we discuss the survey's findings and related California safety requirements.

ROPS Required

Sixty percent of tractors on western U.S. farms are equipped with rollover protective structures (ROPS), the survey revealed. A ROPS protects workers from serious or fatal injuries in the event a tractor overturns. In California, General Industry Safety Orders Section 3651 requires that all agricultural and industrial tractors manufactured after Oct. 25, 1976, and operated by an employee must be equipped with a ROPS. Exceptions to the ROPS requirement include low profile tractors used in orchards, vineyards, or hop yards, or inside a farm building or greenhouse without sufficient clearance; tractors equipped with mounted equipment that is incompatible with ROPS, such as corn pickers, cotton strippers, vegetable pickers, and fruit harvesters; and tractors operated as stationary power and pumping units.

PTO Risks

Between 84 percent and 93 percent of surveyed U.S. farm operators reported that power take-off (PTO) driveline shields were in place on equipment such as hay balers, brush cutters, and sickle bar mowers. Because PTO shafts can cause entanglement deaths and injuries, California's General Industry Safety Orders Section 3440 requires that all PTO shafts be guarded and that any guard which can be used as a step must be able to support the weight of a 250-pound person.

Manure Pit Hazards

Nineteen percent of farms with manure pits reported that a worker entered the pit between one and five times in 12 months, and another 19 percent of farms with manure pits reported that a worker entered the pit more than six times in 12 months. Most manure pits are considered to be permit-required confined spaces because of the hazards they present. Manure pits can produce gases (hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and methane) at hazardous—and lethal—levels; liquid levels in manure pits can pose a drowning hazard; and manure pits often have steep or vertical walls that make escape difficult or impossible. A written confined space program, which includes training for proper entry and hands-on rescue training, is required for facilities with permit-required confined spaces that employees will enter.

Silo Hazards

The U.S. farms surveyed had an average of 3.4 silos, for a total of 1.5 million silos. Silos present a number of very serious safety hazards, including engulfment and fall hazards. Here are ways to reduce risks associated with silos:

Underground Utilities

During the survey, 980,000 farming operations reported having underground power lines. When underground power lines—or any other underground utilities—may be present, verify their location before digging, trenching, or drilling to prevent injuries and death from explosion and electrocution.

Hearing Hazards

Only 66 percent of farm operators who reported being exposed to loud noise indicated that they wore ear plugs or ear muffs at least some of the time. Cal/OSHA requires employers to institute administrative or engineering controls or provide hearing protection when agricultural employees are exposed to noise levels exceeding those set forth in General Industry Safety Orders Section 5096.

Conclusion

Because farming has literally been around for thousands of years, many people take for granted that hazards associated with farm work are simply an unavoidable part of the job. However, with proper hazard assessment, administrative and engineering controls, and the use of training and personal protective equipment, many of the hazards that injure thousands and kill hundreds of people each year in the U.S. can be prevented.

Don't Miss Additional Safety Materials

Rollover hazards, pesticides, mold in silage, cleaning chemicals, dust, loud noises—many safety hazards exist on farms. Check out the COCA articles on agriculture to learn more about safety concerns faced by employers and employees in this industry. Not in the farming business? You can access our general personnel safety articles for tips to keep your workers safe—for their own well-being and for the benefit of your bottom line.