• Tractors should be handled safelytractor image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
  
  When we sit down to a bowl of cereal or take a bite of salad, we usually do not reflect on the risks that farmers take to get that food to the table. Farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. According to "Agricultural Safety," by Keith E. Barenklau, 10 percent of work-related deaths in America are from farming. Statistics show that farming is five times as dangerous as other "average" industries. With modern technology, farming has become so efficient that it can be done on a mass production level. Along with these technological advances, there is an associated increase in the risk of accidents with heavy machinery, large animals, chemicals and exposure to the sun.
  
  

Farm Chemical Safety

• Farmers use chemicals in farming more than ever, many of which are poisonous and will cause death if farmers are overexposed to them. These chemicals range from fertilizers to pesticides such as organochlorine compunds.
  
  Use of poisonous chemicals on crops raises many issues with farm safety. Farmers who use chemicals on their farms must read the labels on chemical containers to know the following: instructions, proper handling, equipment needed, health risks, symptoms and emergency instructions.
  
  

Tractor Safety

• Tractors, as well as motorized lawn mowers and ATVs, bring up several safety issues. According to Utah State University's article, "The Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety," more than 800 tractor deaths occur each year in the United States. They are pieces of heavy machinery with fast moving parts like blades and large wheels that are capable of crushing people to death.
  
  The number one rule of tractor safety is to know the ins and outs of your tractor. Know how it drives, when it stalls, how much it jerks around and how to control the speed. Another rule is to wear a seat belt in case the tractor overturns. And, of course, never let children ride, operate or even come near a moving tractor.
  
  

Farm Animal Safety

• Machinery is not the only safety issue in farming. Working with farm animals--big or small--is a dangerous task as well. Large animals can kick or stomp on a farmer, which can be fatal. Riding a horse without a helmet is dangerous. Safety around animals is important. Never approach a farm animal quickly or sneak up on it, and carefully approach a mother animal with its child.
  
  Also, farm animals can carry harmful diseases. Farmers must always wash their hands with soap after touching farm animals.
  
  

Silage Avalanches

• Silage is a type of moist long-lasting fodder to feed livestock and its presence on farms raises safety issues. It is often stored in large piles covered in plastic and in silos. Any small disruption to the pile may cause an avalanche that can kill or seriously injure farmers or others standing next to the pile. It is recommended to only take fodder from the top, and carefully so.
  
  

Skin Cancer Issues

• According to Oregon State University's Integrated Plant Protection Center, the occurrence of skin cancer in farmers is greater than that of the general population due to consistent exposure to the sun. It is recommended that farmers wear wide-brimmed hats, apply sunscreen above SPF 15 every few hours and wear protective sunglasses.