“Is Agriculture a High-Risk Occupation?”
By Justin Waggoner, Ph.D., Beef Systems Specialist
Most of you reading this are likely involved in agriculture in some capacity. Do you think of being a farmer or rancher as a high-risk occupation?
The reality is that farming and ranching is a dangerous, high-risk occupation. A 2017 report from the U. S. Department of Labor contains some staggering statistics and emphasizes the need for safety. There were 5,190 fatal work-related injuries in 2016. Additionally, this is the first time that more than 5,000 fatal injuries have been reported since 2008. In 2016, farmers, ranchers, and agriculture managers were the second greatest civilian occupation with regard to fatal work-related injuries; with 260 reported fatalities in 2016. Sales and truck drivers had the greatest number of fatal work injuries (918). The leading cause of injuries was transportation incidents (2,083). These statistics are sobering. Agriculture can be dangerous business, and many times our daily activities put us on the road hauling commodities, equipment and livestock. The need for safety in our industry is real and present; don’t be complacent about your safety and the safety of those around you.
The full report from the U.S. Department of Labor may be accessed at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf
For more information, contact Justin Waggoner at jwaggon@ksu.edu.
