Safety measures are a vital way to prevent injured workers and accidents on Oregon farms. Overall, agriculture is a rather dangerous industry and working farms can present a significant risk for injured workers. By developing a safety plan and enacting these practices, employers and farm owners can improve work conditions for all farm workers.
Farm owners have several options for improving the culture of safety on their farms. This may include reaching out to the Agri-Business Council of Oregon, taking advantage of the many resources and programs available to farmers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also has safety regulations to which every farm must adhere. Each farm is also required to provide safety education once a month, no matter the size or type of facility.
There are certain risks associated with working agricultural or livestock farms. Some injuries occur because of haste, such as the rush to get certain crops planted or tasks completed by a certain time. Using dangerous equipment also places workers at risk, especially when workers have not been properly trained. Tractors and all terrain vehicles cause a high number of accidents every year. Despite the hazards, workers can be safe by using precaution, taking ample time to complete tasks and not using equipment for which they have not been trained.
Injured workers are more likely when safety is not a high priority on a working farm. Safety should be a focus of every type work environment, including proper equipment training. Employees have the right to a safe and productive work environment and farms should consistently adhere to all protective regulations. In the event that a farm worker is injured on the job, he or she is likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits through insurance provided by the employer.
Source: capitalpress.com, “Safety is an important issue for everyone on the farm“, Heather Smith Thomas, Sept. 4, 2014