Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent
National Farm Safety and Health Week serves as a yearly reminder to the public and the agricultural community of the dangers of living and working on a farm. The 2025 National Farm Safety and Health Week theme is Safety First, Avoid the Worst. During the weeklong observation, many agricultural groups will focus on different aspects of farm safety each day by recognizing common agricultural hazards. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 data indicates that agriculture is still one of the most dangerous occupations in America, with 417 fatal injuries and has the highest fatality rate (18.6 per 100,000 full-time workers) when compared to all other U.S. industries
Farmers and agricultural workers face more potential hazards than workers in other occupations. On a daily basis they encounter situations including machinery operation, crop handling and storage, livestock, and pesticides. Farmers work long hours in different weather conditions throughout the year. Generally, most agricultural-related injuries and fatalities occur when farmers are the busiest, such as planting, growing, and harvest seasons. When busy, distracted, in a hurry, or under stress, we often take shortcuts that may lead to injury. Most agricultural-related safety incidents are due to human error and therefore preventable.
Prioritizing or “making safety first” is so important for raising awareness and promoting safety practices on the farm. One of the first steps in making our farms safer is hazard recognition. Farm hazards include equipment and machinery hazards, chemicals and fertilizers, confined spaces, livestock, trips and falls, noise, environmental conditions, and ergonomic hazards. Recognition & avoidance of hazards begin with safety training.
Safety training gives farm families the awareness and information they need to recognize, reduce, and eliminate hazards to protect those who live and work on the farm. Provide specific training to employees and family members who may be unfamiliar with the equipment used on the farm. Often overlooked, reading and reviewing the equipment operator’s manual can reduce equipment-related injuries. Conducting in-person meetings to review safety practices and discussing ways to reduce hazards is a significant first step to a safer work environment. Once identified, act promptly to correct hazards. Schedule follow-up safety meetings throughout the year to monitor progress.
One of the most important responsibilities a farm owner or manager has is to ensure the safety and health of family members and employees. Conducting a farm safety inspection/ audit can identify potential hazards before an incident occurs. Employees and family members who are familiar with the operation can assist with a walk-through to identify risks and potential safety hazards. An “outside pair of eyes” such as a first responder, insurance agent, or agricultural Extension Agent with experience in detecting farm-related risks and hazards, can offer an unbiased operation assessment.
Farm safety is all about developing the correct attitude. Cultivating good safety attitudes is necessary for farmers to avoid injuries in the workplace. Farmers often become complacent when working around hazards daily. Complacency can lead to a lack of focus and attention and cause one to overlook or miss warning signs and potential dangers. Keep safe operating procedures on your “radar” at all times.
As a farm owner or manager, setting a good example for family members and employees is one of the best ways to promote safety. By consistently demonstrating safe behaviors, you can influence others to avoid risky behavior and adopt safe farming practices. “Practice what you preach”, “lead by example,” and “walk the talk” are good mottos for making safety first on your farm. Setting a good example is one of the most powerful ways to establish acceptable safety behavior on your farm. If you make it clear that the safe way is the only way to work on your farm, then employees will follow suit.
Providing and encouraging the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) on the farm is essential because it serves as the last line of defense for workers against hazards. By wearing the appropriate PPE, workers reduce the chances of injury on the job. PPEs that can make the job safer include sunscreen and wide-brim hats for sun protection, earplugs or muffs for reducing noise exposure when operating machinery, chemical-resistant gloves when handling pesticides, dust masks or respirators for safeguarding respiratory systems in dusty environments, and safety glasses or goggles for eye protection.
To prepare for medical and other types of emergencies, develop an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. A fast, well-coordinated response in emergencies can reduce the impact of an injury and may even save a life. A written plan, including a site map, will also be beneficial to first responders in locating potential hazards such as fuel and chemical storage. Regularly review the plan with everyone who may have to handle an emergency on the farm.
In conclusion, there are many steps one can take to make farms a safer place for families and employees. One of the best approaches to reducing farm-related injuries and fatalities is to be proactive. Regarding farm safety, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”!
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)TableA-1. Fatal Occupational Injuries by Industry, Event or Exposure, all United States, 2022: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- National Education Center of Agricultural Safety: National Farm Safety and Health Week 2025
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