The Plain Facts ... About the Agricultural Industry
- Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States.
Mechanical, chemical and environmental hazards may increase the risk of accident
for agricultural workers. Most farm and ranch accidents are preventable.
- Over 700 farmers and ranchers die in work-related accidents yearly.
Many of these injuries occur when farm tractors roll over on the operator and its
passengers. Another 120,000 agricultural workers suffer disabling injuries from
workrelated accidents.
- Farm and ranch women are among those at risk in workrelated accidents.
Their involvement with livestock and farm equipment puts them at greater risk to
work injuries. Power TakeOffs (PTOs) and the moving parts associated with some
farm equipment may entangle loose clothing or catch long hair.
- Senior farmers are at increased risk from farm accidents and injuries.
Farmers no longer retire at age 65 — many farm well into their 70´s. Senior farmers
often take prescribed medications, work with physical disabilities, and/or suffer
from hearing loss. All these factors may increase senior farmers´ risk for work-related
injuries and death.
- Children are at special risk from farm-related accidents.
Most of the 200plus deaths among children on farms result from being innocent
bystanders or passengers on farm equipment. Surveys indicate that many farm children
are working in dangerous environments by the age of 10.
- Famers are not using lifesaving rollover seat belts.
Only half of the farm tractors used on U.S. farms are equipped with life-saving
rollover protective structures (ROP´s) with seat belts. Many farm tractors were
manufactured prior to the voluntary installation of ROP´s with seat belts, while
some newer tractors have had their ROPs removed by the owner.
- Farmers are not taking advantage of injurypreventing safety equipment.
Farm safety audits indicate that many of the farm tractors being used daily do not
have safety equipment which could prevent injuries and save lives. Bypass starter
covers, PTO master shields and slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblems are missing on
many tractors.
- Emergency medical care is not readily accessible to farmers and ranchers.
The isolated nature of farms and ranches in our nation's rural areas creates difficult
conditions for emergency medical service providers. Farmers and ranchers often work
alone and may become entrapped, entangled or disabled for precious hours beefore
they receive medical attention.
