gloves, coveralls, boots, hats, aprons, goggles,

face shields) could significantly reduce farming injuries.

• Medical Care – Hospitals and emergency medical care are typically not readily accessible in

rural areas near farms.

How You Can Improve Farm Safety 

You can start by increasing your awareness of

farming hazards and making a conscious effort

to prepare for emergency situations including

fires, vehicle accidents, electrical shocks from

equipment and wires, and chemical exposures.

Be especially alert to hazards that may affect

children and the elderly. Minimize hazards by

carefully selecting the products you buy to

ensure that you provide good tools and equipment. Always use seat belts when operating

tractors, and establish and maintain good

housekeeping practices. Here are some other

steps you can take to reduce illnesses and

injuries on the farm:

• Read and follow instructions in equipment

operator’s manuals and on product labels.

• Inspect equipment routinely for problems that

may cause accidents.

• Discuss safety hazards and emergency procedures with your workers.

• Install approved rollover protective structures, protective enclosures, or protective

frames on tractors.

• Make sure that guards on farm equipment are

replaced after maintenance.

• Review and follow instructions in material

safety data sheets (MSDSs) and on labels

that come with chemical products and communicate information on these hazards to

your workers.

Health and Safety Hazards on Farms

Farm workers—including farm families and

migrant workers—are exposed to hazards such

as the following:

• Chemicals/Pesticides

• Cold

• Dust

• Electricity

• Grain bins

• Hand tools

• Highway traffic

• Lifting

• Livestock handling

• Machinery/Equipment

• Manure pits

• Mud

• Noise

• Ponds

• Silos

• Slips/Trips/Falls

• Sun/Heat

• Toxic gases

• Tractors

• Wells

High Risk Factors on Farms

The following factors may increase risk of injury

or illness for farm workers:

• Age – Injury rates are highest among children

age 15 and under and adults over 65.

• Equipment and Machinery – Most farm accidents and fatalities involve machinery. Proper

machine guarding and doing equipment maintenance according to manufacturers’ recommendations can help prevent accidents.

• Protective Equipment – Using protective

equipment, such as seat belts on tractors, and

personal protective equipment (such as safety

FactSheet

Farm Safety

Contrary to the popular image of fresh air and peaceful surroundings, a farm is

not a hazard-free work setting. Every year, thousands of farm workers are injured

and hundreds more die in farming accidents. According to the National Safety

Council, agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation.
• Take precautions to prevent entrapment and

suffocation caused by unstable surfaces of

grain storage bins, silos, or hoppers. Never

“walk the grain.”

• Be aware that methane gas, carbon dioxide,

ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide can form in

unventilated grain silos and manure pits and

can suffocate or poison workers or explode.

• Take advantage of safety equipment, such as

bypass starter covers, power take-off master

shields, and slow-moving vehicle emblems.

The Benefits of Improved Safety 

and Health Practices

Better safety and health practices reduce worker

fatalities, injuries, and illnesses as well as

associated costs such as workers’ compensation

insurance premiums, lost production, and

medical expenses. A safer and more healthful

workplace improves morale and productivity.

Additional Information on 

Safety and Health

For more information about farm safety, visit OSHA’s

website at www.osha.gov/SLTC/agriculturalopera

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

tions, the National Safety Council at www.nsc.org/

farmsafe/ facts.htm, the Environmental Protection

Agency at www.epa.gov/pesticides/safety/workers/

workers. htm, and the Centers for Disease Control

at www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/topic.html. In

addition, OSHA has a variety of materials and

tools available elsewhere on its website at

www.osha.gov. 

OSHA Publications

OSHA has an extensive publications program.

For a listing of free or sales items, visit OSHA’s

website at www.osha.gov/pls/publications/

pubindex.list or contact the OSHA Publications

Office, U.S. Department of Labor, 200

Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington,

DC 20210. Telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to

(202) 693-2498. 

Contacting OSHA 

To report an emergency, file a complaint or seek

OSHA advice, assistance or products, call (800)

321-OSHA or contact your nearest OSHA regional or area office.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

DEP 9/2005