Agricultural Safety Overview
Every year, thousands of farm workers in the USA are injured and hundreds more die in farming accidents. According to the National Safety Council, agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation.
OSU employees that work in agricultural settings may be subject to a variety of hazards, including:
- Exposure to chemicals and pesticides
- Extreme weather
- Exposure to respirable particles
- Electricity
- Fall hazards
- Hand tools
- Highway traffic and transporting equipment
- Irrigation equipment
- Lifting
- Livestock handling
- Machinery/Equipment
- Manure pits
- Noise
- Ponds
- Silos
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Toxic gases
- Tractors and combines
All farms overseen by Oregon State University are managed by university faculty, staff, and students who must adhere to any and all regulations and standards regarding agricultural work, detailed in the OSHA Agriculture Standards (29 CFR 1928). OSU staff that supervise or work on farms are encouraged to consult and cooperate with EH&S to help ensure a safe workplace and practices are maintained.
Program Details
- Adhere to regulations and standards regarding environmental protection
- Handle hazardous waste generated on the farm or research station
- Learn more about the Worker Protection Standard
- Manage the chemical inventory of the farm or research station
- Prepare employees for fieldwork safety
- Protect against fire and health hazards