Prioritizing Your Well-Being: National Farm Safety and Health Week

National Farm Health and Safety Week serves as a reminder that practicing farm safety is more than an individual responsibility; safe farms protect entire families and communities. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S. About 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time injury every day, and farmers are nearly twice as likely to die on the job as the average U.S. worker. NIOSH also states that injuries in the industry are well-known to be underreported.

This year, we wanted to highlight one cause for farm injury and fatality: grain entrapment. In a 2024 report, researchers at Purdue University found that 43% of reported cases that year were fatal, with farmers in Indiana and Missouri experiencing the most incidents. 

No matter where you farm, if you use grain bins for storage, we made this short video for you and your loved ones to provide an overview of ways to stay safe when working inside of a grain bin.

Here are a few additional reminders and resources:

• Maintain your equipment: Regular inspections and the use of rollover protective structures can reduce your risk of injury.
• Use protective gear: Gloves, goggles, hearing protection, and respirators help guard against chemical exposure, loud machinery, and dust.
• Prevent fatigue: Schedule rest, hydrate, and rotate tasks to reduce accidents linked to exhaustion.
• Support mental health: Keep an open dialogue with family and employees, and reach out for help when stress feels overwhelming.
• Educate and train the next generation: Young people working on farms are at higher risk; proper training reduces preventable accidents.
• Check out the AgriSafe Learning Lab: Webinars and training courses to streamline your farm safety training. https://learning.agrisafe.org/
  • September 25, 11am CT Webinar: Confined Spaces in Agriculture: https://www.agrisafe.org/event/webinar-confined-spaces-in-agriculture/

A healthy, safe farm is productive, resilient, and sustainable. This week, take time to check equipment, review safety practices, and look out for your employees and neighbors. A strong agricultural economy depends on the well-being of the people who do the work.

Jennifer Strickland is the Social Media Strategist with the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.