Safety First: A Look at Farm Safety

People who work in agriculture are at the highest risk for occupational injuries and fatalities, but through programs, trainings and events, Minnesota Farm Bureau is helping to make the industry safer for everyone.

Agriculture is the most hazardous industry to work in, with 19.5 deaths per 100,000 workers, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between tractor rollovers—the leading cause of death—falls, drowning, livestock handling, toxic chemicals, and other health and safety hazards, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture states that farmers are 800% more likely to die than people in other jobs.

“What we do is inherently dangerous,” says Dale Hallcock, a Dakota County Farm Bureau member, corn and soybean farmer, and firefighter with the Randolph-Hampton Fire District. “Most farmers can think of someone in the neighborhood or family members who have been injured.”

Training and preventive measures are key to keeping agriculture workers safe. Through activities, forums and events, health fairs and training seminars, the Minnesota Farm Bureau (MFBF) promotes safety and health in agricultural and rural communities to reduce the number of farm work–related injuries and deaths. Two areas of focus include youth and grain bin safety.

Keeping Kids Safe

An agriculture-related fatality involving a child occurs about every three days, according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. MFBF works to combat these statistics by hosting annual safety camps and certifications for kids and teenagers, who, in Minnesota, are legally allowed to start working agricultural jobs at age 12.

“Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye,” says Katie Drewitz, vice president of the Fillmore County Farm Bureau board of directors and a University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension educator.

Drewitz helps coordinate the Tesmer Farm Safety Day Camp, a program started in the 1990s by the late Jerry Tesmer, a longtime U of M Extension educator. Every year in May, anywhere between 400 and 600 fourth-grade students in Fillmore and Houston counties attend the camp, which covers everything from basic first aid and plant identification to tractor rollovers and ATV safety. Tractors and ATVS are the leading causes of fatal events involving children, according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.

As part of the safety camp, funded by community donations and staffed by volunteers, students receive a safety bag that includes items like a yellow safety vest, safety glasses, earplugs and reflective stickers, as well as a free lunch.

“We just want to keep kids safe in our community,” says Drewitz, who herself attended the safety camp as a kid. “And sometimes it takes a child saying to mom or dad or uncle or grandpa, ‘Hey, we learned in safety camp that you shouldn’t be doing that,’ to make an adult pause and think about what they’re doing, and potentially keep them from an injury as well.”  

Another MFBF-supported safety program is the Youth Tractor and Farm Safety Training. Over the summer, teenagers 14 years and older can sign up to learn about common farm hazards and how to minimize their risks, work hands-on with full-sized tractors and receive training in farm safety topics. The program involves eight to 10 hours of online instruction and two days of in-person training, after which students are eligible to receive a U.S. Department of Labor certificate required for 14- and 15-year-olds who want to work on farms as employees.

“There are a lot of things that are taught during safety classes that, if not taught, can easily lead to severe injuries or even death,” Drewitz says. “By going through a safety course, we can provide students with the knowledge they need to slow down, think about and recognize dangers, and hopefully avoid any accidents. I always say if we save one kid’s life, we’ve done our job.”

Making Rescues More Successful 

Grain-related entrapments are on the rise: According to a 2023 report from Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program, there were 42 entrapments in 2022, a 44% increase from 2021 and the highest number recorded in more than a decade. That same year, Minnesota had the second-highest grain bin entrapment incidence rate in the country, behind Iowa.

Flowing grain behaves similarly to quicksand, and within 20 seconds a full-grown adult can become completely buried from the suction of the grain, according to the U of M Extension. The pressure of the grain makes escape nearly impossible, as the force required to remove a buried person can exceed 2,000 pounds.  

Grain rescue tubes can be used to aid in rescue efforts. They work by securing a tube piece-by-piece around a trapped person, allowing the grain inside the tube to be safely removed and making it easier to pull the victim out.

The Randolph-Hampton Fire District got its first grain rescue tube—the first in the area—about 10 years ago, when it was donated by the Dakota County Farm Bureau, an effort led by then-board members Karen Bremer and Charlie Rodman. As a firefighter for the district, Hallcock knew firsthand the danger of grain bin entrapment: Historically, 59% of grain bin entrapment cases are fatal.

“You have to take your time and set up properly,” says Hallcock of the grain rescue tube. “You have to work slowly to not bring more grain down on them.”  

His advice applies to all aspects of working on a farm. “The biggest thing is to slow down and think about what’s going to happen next,” Hallcock says. “If you’re going to jump over a live PTO [power take off], take a minute and walk around it. If you’re going into a grain bin, make sure it’s safe to do so and have somebody on the outside know where you’re at. It doesn’t do anybody any good if you don’t come home.”

National Farm Safety and Health Week

Every September, the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety leads National Farm Safety and Health Week, during which businesses nationwide host events to help initiate or energize safety and health programs. Taking place Sept. 15–21, this year’s daily topics of focus include equipment and rural roadway safety, health and wellness, generations of farming, confined spaces and reporting ag injuries. necasag.org

By the Numbers: Ag Safety

19.5
Number of deaths per 100,000 agriculture workers

800%
How much more likely Farmers are to die on the job compared to people who work in other industries

$11.31 billion
Estimated annual national agricultural injury cost

80%
Percentage of farm accidents that result from carelessness or failure to deal with hazards safely

?
Number of farm accidents that involve children