August 10, 2020 Farming Injuries: Everything You Need to Know

A look at the types of injuries in the agricultural industry in the United States; one of the most hazardous.

If you work in the farming industry, you know what a challenging sector it is and the amount of risk associated with roles in this field. In fact, agriculture is among the most hazardous industries in the United States, with a relatively high likelihood of workers sustaining nonfatal or fatal injuries on the job. For instance, each day, roughly 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time injury, which indicates that these types of workplace injuries can have dire consequences on not only the physical wellbeing of farmers but on their livelihoods as well.

Here are a few things to know about these types of injuries and how to proceed in the event you experience one yourself.

Types of Injuries

In such a physically demanding job, there are a number of accidents that can occur. Some of the most common types of farming injuries in the United States include tractor overturn deaths, farm structure fails, farm machine entanglements, and suffocations. Approximately 100 American farmers are killed each year in tractor turnover accidents, with even more sustaining major injuries from such incidents. Additionally, farm workers can be maimed, disfigured, or even killed due to falls from farm equipment (e.g. grain bins, ladders, haymows) or from getting caught in machinery. Suffocation accidents occur when workers get stuck in enclosed spaces, such as grain bins or silo, which do not have sufficient oxygen levels and are often contaminated with silo gas or manure gas.

Causes of Injuries

While it is difficult to pinpoint exact causes of farming injuries due to the fact that they often go unreported, there are certain conditions that increase the likelihood of such accidents occurring. It is estimated that, in roughly 80% of cases, farm accidents leading to injury are caused by a degree of carelessness or a failure to safely handle hazards.

The inherently hazardous nature of rural settings is another potential cause for such injuries; farms are isolated, with little direct supervision of work and limited opportunity for any injured persons to obtain first aid in a timely manner.

Additionally, farm workers often handle live animals, including cattle and horses, that can sometimes trample employees or cause automobile accidents if they escape from their enclosures.

In certain cases, farming accidents are caused by the negligence of certain persons or entities. For example, if a farm equipment company fails to put proper warning labels on their machinery, an employee could easily operate it incorrectly and hurt themselves. Similarly, if a farm owner doesn’t adequately train their new employees, they could injure themselves on the job.

What to do After an Accident

If you’ve sustained an injury at your farm job, there are a few key steps you should follow. Collect as much relevant evidence as you possibly can, which may include taking photos of the scene of the incident and collecting witness details. Next, you’ll want to seek the assistance of an attorney who specializes in such injury cases. They’ll know exactly how to use the information you’ve gathered to build a strong case and heighten your chances of securing both compensation and justice.

Want to know how a lawyer can help with your case? Reach out to Texas Farm Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.

When working in the farming industry, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the potential hazards in order to know how to protect yourself against injury. In the event that you do sustain an injury, it’s equally vital to seek out resources that can help you gain justice, such as an attorney. In doing so, you’ll maintain your safety and wellbeing even in the most hazardous of environments.

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