Applying Safety Standards in the Agricultural Industry

Old MacDonald had a farm, S-A-F-E-T-Y. While these are not the tradional lyrics of the popular nursery rhyme that is sung today, had that iconic farmer been a better speller, it very well could have been. Old MacDonald was a wise, experienced soul, and in his latter years of life, he created the song to remind young farmers of the importance of safety on a farm. However, are safety procedures on a farm really necessary? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the average fatality rate for agricultural workers is seven times higher than the average rate of workers, and in 2011, 570 workers died while they were working on a farm (“Agricultural”). Farmers work very hard to provide food for the nation; they also put themselves in dangerous situations when they use heavy equipment. Therefore, farmers need to be aware of the many hazards they may encounter while working on a farm and the steps they can take to ensure their safety.

While industrialized equipment has allowed for more efficient food production, farm machinery can also be a safety hazard. For over a decade, the leading cause of death among farmers has been tractor rollovers; however, practical steps can be taken to avoid an overturn or survive an overturn if one does occur. The rolling hills of West Virginia make for a picturesque setting, but they also make tractor operation hazardous. A farmer in West Virginia would be wise to buy a wide front-end tractor and to use wide wheel spacing because a wider tractor provides more stability on a side slope. Proper ballasting of a tractor gives the driver stability, as well as control. While a farmer is utilizing heavy equipment on the rear end of a tractor, he should counterbalance the front end ...

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...e long, fulfilling lives.

Works Cited

Prather, Timothy G. “Preventing and Surviving Tractor Overturns.” The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. .

“Part-time Farmer Dies Following a Tractor Rollover in West Virginia.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 19 Dec. 2002. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. .

“Agricultural Operations.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. .

“Power Take-Off (PTO) Safety.” Penn State Extension. Pennsylvania State University. Jan. 2014 Web. 19 Apr. 2014. .