Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are common illnesses that are related to being exposed to high temperatures; heatstroke is a medical emergency which can result in death. With a few precautions and helpful tactics, most heat-related illnesses can be avoided.
Protecting the operator in case of a rollover requires a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) and a properly installed and fastened seat belt. Seat belts are necessary to keep the operator within the ROPS safety zone in case of a rollover.
Pesticides are usually designed to be toxic to the pests for which they are aimed, insects, bacteria, weeds, or plant disease. However, these substances can also prove to be harmful to the people who use them if exposure is high enough.
Many of today's farms have the capability of storing grain on site. The storage bins save the farmer elevator storage fees and drying charges for grain above the desired moisture content. These storage bins also present a substantial risk to farmers and farm workers.
Aluminum irrigation pipes are commonly used in agriculture in the arid West. The lightweight pipes are thirty to forty feet in length and are designed to be connected, moved, and reconnected by hand in irrigated areas during growing seasons. High voltage lines (7200 or 7620 volts) supply power to the irrigation pumps, and are typically suspended twenty to thirty feet above ground. Electrocutions usually occur around the periphery of irrigated fields when workers lift or tilt the pipes to clear out water, sediment, debris, or small animals and make accidental contact with the power lines.
We live with thousands of chemicals every day--pesticides, degreasers, weed killers, fertilizers, bug killers, solvents, cleaners, medicine, chemicals of all kinds. Each and every chemical has a purpose. If we use them correctly, they do the job we want them to do. If we misuse them, many chemicals can be harmful. They may make you sick or even cause death. We do not have to stop using chemicals to protect ourselves; we just have to use them safely.
Many components of "wheat dust" have long been recognized as contributing or causative factors in respiratory diseases. This is also true of many other agricultural dusts. Unfortunately, when the term wheat dust is used, there is much more to it than the dust from wheat alone.
Today's farmers and Agricultural workers are exposed to many on-the-job hazards, which result in a death rate five times greater than all other industries averaged together. Nealy half of the fatalities involve tractors. By using a ROPS and seat belt, and not allowing passengers on the tractor at any time, a very large portion of all tractor related deaths can be prevented.
The power take-off (PTO) is a rotating shaft that drives attached machinery. It is comprised of the PTO stub, telescoping driveline, and u-joints. The PTO can be very dangerous, therefore, safety must be exercised when working around the PTO.
There are nearly 1.7 million children under 20 years of age living on farms and ranches in the United States. Farm children are often needed and expected to help with chores or handle responsibilities at a young age. Due to this fact, and the nature of farming, they are exposed to potentially dangerous situations much more frequently than children in towns or cities.
