National Farm Safety and Health Week focuses on preventing accidents

National Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 15-21. (Photo credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Farming continues to be one of the most hazardous occupations in the country. Safety webinars and training are available for agriculture workers throughout Sept. 15 through Sept. 21, which is recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. 

“I call upon the people of the United States — including America’s farmers; ranchers; and agriculture-related institutions, organizations, and businesses — to reaffirm a dedication to farm safety and health,” President Joe Biden said in a proclamation about National Farm Safety and Health Week. 

Workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries had a fatal injury rate of 18.6 per 100,000 people, one of the highest rates per industry, according to 2022 data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Applicable agencies say these numbers are likely higher, considering many injuries and fatalities are unreported. 

Tabitha Kuehn, the outreach coordinator for Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, or I-CASH, said consistent prevention education helps keep safety top of mind as farmers go about their daily chores. 

“It’s so important to be getting those resources and having those reminders, because a lot of people get into the mindset that farming is inherently dangerous and there’s nothing you can do,” Kuehn said. “That doesn’t have to be the case.”

The 2024 theme for National Farm and Safety Health week is “don’t learn safety by accident,” with a focus on preventable incidents. 

Resources

AgriSafe, in collaboration with agriculture groups across the country, will host a series of free webinars on topics like equipment and roadway safety, mental and physical wellness, succession planning and reporting ag injuries. 

Iowans have access to a hotline, 1-800-447-1985, from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for help with financial, legal, stress and crisis situations. 

I-CASH partners with state departments and county extension offices to provide free resources where farmers frequent.

It also has online resources, like a list to find mental health support. Kuehn said these resources and farm stress trainings have become more prevalent in recent years, as data continues to show the increased likelihood of death by suicide among farming and rural populations. 

Iowa has the highest rate of tractor rollovers in the country, which is why Kuehn said rollover prevention will be the I-CASH fall campaign focus. Farmers can also apply for a rebate program to retrofit their tractors with rollover safety equipment. 

Even simple things like persistent exposure to the sun, or loud machinery can cause long-term damage to farmers, which is why Kuehn said the program also focuses on getting information to youth groups like 4-H and Future Farmers of America. 

“Farming is a lot more than just a job to a lot of people,” Kuehn said. “You want to have it set up to be the safest for all of these other people you care about too.”