A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Farm Health and Safety
You might think of farms as peaceful settings. Actually, farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Farms have many health and safety hazards, including
- Chemicals and pesticides
- Machinery, tools and equipment that can be dangerous
- Hazardous areas, such as grain bins, silos and wells
- Livestock that can spread diseases or cause injuries
Farming injuries are very common. Physical labor and accidents can cause injuries.
Most farm accidents involve machinery. Proper machine inspection and maintenance can help prevent accidents. Using safety gloves, goggles and other protective equipment can also reduce accidents.
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Start Here
- Farm Safety(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
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Tox Town Farm(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
- Youth in Agriculture(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
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Overviews
- Agricultural Health and Safety Frequently Asked Questions(Rural Assistance Center)
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Rehabilitation/Recovery
- Adaptive Controls for Tractors and Machinery(Dept. of Agriculture) - PDF
- Farming with an Arm Amputation(Dept. of Agriculture) - PDF
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Specific Conditions
- Anhydrous Ammonia Safety(National Safety Council) - PDF
- Crop Protection Chemical Safety(National Safety Council) - PDF
- Diseases from Farm Animals(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Electrocution Hazards on the Farm(Iowa State University, University Extension) - PDF
- Falls from Tractors and Trailing Equipment(National Safety Council) - PDF
- Hazards Associated with Using Farm Tractors to Move Large Bales(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Also available in Spanish
- Livestock Handling(National Safety Council) - PDF
- PTO (Power-Take-Off) Safety(National Safety Council) - PDF
- Remember Sun Safety in the Field(Iowa State University, University Extension) - PDF
- Safe Use of Harvesting Equipment(National Safety Council) - PDF
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Related Issues
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)(National Safety Council) - PDF
- Respirators for Agricultural Work(National Farm Medicine Center) - PDF
- Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Farm Workers(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Also available in Spanish
- Stay Healthy at Animal Exhibits This Summer(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Tips to Reduce Stress
(National Center for Farmworker Health)
- PDF
- Also available in Spanish
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Videos
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Let's Give an Ear to: Keeping Noise Down on the Farm(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
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Let's Give an Ear to: Keeping Noise Down on the Farm
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Research
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Agricultural Health Study(National Cancer Institute)
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Agricultural Health Study(National Cancer Institute)
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Agricultural Health Study
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Find a Health Center(Health Resources and Services Administration)
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Organizations
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Newsletters/Print Publications
- Migrant Health Newsline(National Center for Farmworker Health) - PDF
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Statistics
- Agricultural Safety(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Fact Sheets about Farmworkers(National Center for Farmworker Health) - PDF
- Occupational Health and Safety(National Center for Farmworker Health) - PDF
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Children
- Farm Safety (For Children)(Nemours Foundation)
- Farm Safety (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
- Keeping Farm Children Safe(University of Minnesota, Extension Service)
- Keys to Creating Safe Play Areas on Farms(National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety)
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Noise: Keeping It Down on the Farm(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
- North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) Guidelines(National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety)
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Teenagers
- Farm Safety (For Teens)(Nemours Foundation)
- Injuries to Youth on Farms and Safety Recommendations, U.S. 2006(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- Youth in Agriculture(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
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