Chemicals are a fact of life in agriculture. We use them everywhere for almost everything. So it’s important to know the best practices for handling them carefully, storing them safely, and what to do in the event of unexpected exposure.

Depending on the size of your operation, chances are good that you need to move heavy loads around. Whether they be skids of seeds, tanks, or other common farm equipment, it is probably a powered industrial truck (PIT) – commonly called a forklift – that you’re going to use for the job.  It may also be a skid steer, payloader or telehandler.  And just like any other heavy farm equipment, operating a forklift comes with its own hazards and concerns.

Anhydrous ammonia is one of the most commonly used fertilizers in agriculture. It is used as an efficient method of restoring nitrogen into the soil. It’s easy to apply and readily available.

Manure pits have become an increasingly necessary part of many agriculture and livestock operations. But manure storage comes with its own set of risks and hazards, like build-up of toxic gases, drowning, and engulfment. Every year numerous death and injury reports are recorded involving manure pits. Even more tragically, many of these reports involve multiple fatalities of family members and friends trying to rescue one or more victims.

Running an agriculture operation is hard work. It’s also dangerous work. Every year agriculture finds itself at the top of the list of the ten most dangerous industries in the United States. Little wonder, then, that OSHA has started paying more attention to farms, feedlots, dairies, and other ag operations. And with the cost of OSHA citations increasing, farmers and ranchers simply can’t afford to let unsafe operating practices go overlooked.

Working in confined spaces is an unavoidable part of running many agriculture operations. Whether it be a manure pit, silo, grain bin, fertilizer tank, or another building, the nature of the structure presents a risk of death or significant injury due to suffocation or poisoning. We’ve all heard stories of those who have lost their lives from working inside a confined space – and too often the lives of their rescuers.

Grain bins are a necessary part of many agriculture operations. But they also present one of the most dangerous activities, as well. A worker in a grain bin can become engulfed in less than 3 seconds, unable to get free of flowing grain. They may become completely submerged in less than 6 seconds. That’s all the time it takes for a potentially fatal accident to occur.

It’s no secret that agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the world and that emergencies can happen any time. Unfortunately, emergency responders may not always be familiar with ag operations, meaning that rescues and treatment of injured employees may take much longer than normal. Precious minutes could easily be lost while responders determine the best way to get a trapped or injured employee to safety and treatment. Having an emergency action plan (EAP) in place for your operation can literally mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

As an ag operation owner, you no doubt have an insurance plan in place in case something goes wrong. It's part of the price of doing business in the event of an accident or disaster. Sometimes, that insurance plan can mean the difference between staying afloat after a particularly difficult year and going under completely.

Farmers have to wear many hats in their daily operations. On any given day they might have to be cultivators and planters, mechanics and engineers, veterinarians, paramedics, business people, and more. The risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens is a particular risk when injuries occur, so it's especially important to make sure that your safety training program includes a course on bloodborne pathogens.