National Farm Safety and Health Week Focuses on Farmers

Sept 20-26 is National Farm Safety and Health Week 2020

Agriculture is still the most dangerous job sector in America, with 574 fatalities, or an equivalent of 23.4 deaths per 100,000 workers, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry, which is why the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week.

This annual promotion  works to raise awareness of safety and health issues on farms, ranches, and in rural communities, and commits to improving the well-being of those who live and work in rural settings. It was initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed by each U.S. President since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.

Daily topics of focus for this year’s event are:

Monday – Tractor Safety & Rural Roadway Safety
Tuesday – Overall Farmer Health
Wednesday – Safety & Health for Youth in Agriculture
Thursday – Emergency Preparedness in Agriculture
Friday – Safety & Health for Women in Agriculture

Scheduled Free Webinars are:

Monday, September 21:

  • Planting the Seeds of Tractor and Machinery Safety (Noon CDT)

Tuesday, September 22:

  • Lessons Learned in Covid-19 Prevention Efforts among Agriculture Workers and Employers (Noon CDT)
  • Mental Health Innovations in Ag Communities (2:00 p.m. CDT)

Wednesday, September 23:

  • Building a Toolkit for Child Ag Safety and Health (Noon CDT)
  • Teach Your Way: Open Source Ag Health and Safety Curriculum (2:00 p.m. CDT)

Thursday, September 24:

  • Emergency Planning for Farm Operations (Noon CDT)
  • Respiratory Protection Issues in Agriculture: What to wear and does it fit? (2:00 p.m. CDT)

Friday, September 25:

  • Safety in the Field: Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment for Farm Workers (10:00 a.m. CDT)
  • Discovering the Root of your Back Story: Prevention and Understanding of Back Injuries (Noon CDT)

Farm Safety and Health Week Resources:

Farm Work Can Be Deadly

​Grain handling is a high hazard activity, and experienced workers lose their lives in grain bins incidents every year. The Grain Handling Safety Coalition (GHSC) provides training materials to train farmers, commercial grain handling employees, youth and rescue workers.

Farm safety signs like this one alert workers to potential hazards and help keep safety top-of-mind.