Agricultural Employment

Follow the links below to find information about health issues associated with employment in agriculture and farming, including farm safety.

Reviewed July 2011

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11 Resources Found

Results 1 to 11 displayed.

Title:   Farm safety - handling animals
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Many injuries to farmers and farm workers occur when handling livestock. Animals are unpredictable, especially during the mating season or when protecting their young. Cattle, dogs, pigs, horses and sheep should be treated with caution. Attempting to lift or push animals can cause injury and animals are capable of transmitting certain diseases. Children should always be supervised around farm animals
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - machinery
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Machinery is responsible for many deaths and injuries each year on farms. Particular culprits include tractors and quad bikes. Common tractor accidents involve roll-overs, run-overs and unguarded power take-off shafts. All tractors must have roll-over protection and always use seatbelts. Don't let passengers, in particular children, ride on a tractor.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - confined spaces
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Confined spaces on farms are dangerous. Water tanks, silos, wells, vats. manure pits, tunnels and other confined spaces can suffocate a person with fumes or low oxygen levels. Farm workers, children and other people are at risk. People making a rescue attempt can also be in danger. Proper safety procedures are vital, including having a rescue plan and safety equipment.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - manual handling
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Farming is a very physical occupation and workers can injure themselves by lifting heavy loads such as chemicals, fertiliser, hay bales, calves, buckets, equipment, and also while handling animals. Most agricultural manual handling injuries involve the back and weight-bearing joints and the risk of injury can be minimised by good lifting techniques and safe working habits. Use mechanical lifting aids or get help to lift and carry heavy loads whenever possible.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - sheep and shearing
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Working with sheep can be dangerous. Badly designed shearing sheds and yards present a range of physical, chemical and biological hazards. A safe working environment can minimise the chances of injury and illness. Make sure shearing sheds are well designed, lit and ventilated, agricultural and veterinary chemicals are stored and used appropriately, and machinery is safe and well maintained.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - handling agrichemicals
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   There are many chemicals on the farm and some of them can be dangerous. Common agricultural chemicals include fuels, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and veterinary chemicals. Exposure to chemicals can lead to health effects including headache, poisoning, respiratory illness, burns, cancers and birth defects. Always follow the manufacturers' instructions for storage, transport, use and disposal of chemicals. Keep all chemicals locked away and out of reach of children and wear appropriate protective gear.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - risks and hazards
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Farm safety hazards that can cause injury and illness include animals, chemicals, vehicles, machinery, electricity and other power supplies, dams, lakes, high places and the weather. Farm-related workplace accidents are preventable if proper safety procedures are used by all workers and family members at all times. Everyone working, visiting or living on a farm needs to understand the risks.
Date:   Jul 2011
Title:   Farm safety - falls
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Falls are a leading cause of significant injury and death for farm workers. Common hazards include animals, motorbikes or quad bikes (all terrain vehicles or ATVs), working at heights in silos or on tractors, harvesters, cherry pickers or windmills, uneven surfaces and uncovered wells. Older farmers are most at risk. Simple safety measures can reduce the danger.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Farm safety - crush injuries
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A crush injury occurs when the body or a body part is trapped, pinched or jammed under or between objects. The pressure can harm skin, muscles, nerves or bone, depending on the degree of force. On Victorian farms, the most commonly injured body parts are the hands and fingers.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   At work
Publisher:   Cancer Council Victoria
Description:   Information about developing a sun protection program in workplaces for the protection of outdoor workers from sun exposure.
Date:   Jan 2012
Title:   Interventions for preventing injuries in the agricultural industry
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Occupational injury rates among farmers are high. Many prevention programs and laws have been introduced as injury control strategies in this field, but the effectiveness of many of these strategies in reducing injuries is still unknown. A systematic li...
Date:   Nov 2007

Results 1 to 11 displayed.