By becoming more informed about agricultural health and safety, we can create a safer environment for farm workers in our state. Important concepts related to agricultural safety are discussed in the next section. Safety and Health Concepts Providing and operating a safe agricultural workplace begins with a fundamental understanding of safety and safety management. Generally, when we use the word safety, we mean being relatively free from hazard. However, through proper design, management, and practice, we can enhance safety and reduce the occurrence of deaths, injuries, and illnesses.
Safety is the responsibility of more than just one person or group.
Agricultural safety is the shared responsibility of owners, operators, suppliers, manufacturers, processors, and other workers involved in the production chain. All of these persons need to understand the basic safety concepts listed below. Hazard is any set of circumstances that may cause harm. Hazards may be mechanical, biological, chemical, thermal, or of some other type. Hazards can be ranked in order of the severity or degree of damage they can cause.