Items Tagged with 'Farmworker safety'

Fall is a time when crop harvests across the country are being brought in and heavy-duty machinery use is in full swing. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, about half of the state’s 500 reported farm machinery and equipment injuries occur each year between August and November.

Falls from tractors or trailing equipment can lead to serious injury and death on farms and ranches.

A high proportion of farm fatalities and injuries can be attributed to tractors, according to the National Safety Council. A tractor safety program can help minimize such risks.

The use of farm irrigation systems brings with it an increased risk of electrocution. Safe Electricity, a public awareness campaign created by the Urbana, IL-based Energy Education Council, urges workers to know and follow proper safety precautions to avoid electrical injuries when operating and handling watering systems.

Improper hitching to a tractor can cause severe injury and even death. NIOSH warns that attaching a tow chain at a point above the tractor’s drawbar can cause the vehicle to roll over backward – a highly dangerous occurrence.