For a young worker, a job on the farm can be rewarding, but also hazardous. Farms are busy places with large animals and heavy machinery.
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, between 60 and 70 teens die from job-related injuries each year. To help minimize the dangers to young workers, the group offered up the following tips for teens to avoid heavy machinery hazards:
- Don’t use equipment you haven’t been trained to use
- Use earplugs or earmuffs in high noise work areas
- Use safety glasses or goggles when exposed to flying particles
- Wear appropriate protective clothing, gloves and shoes for the job
- Do not ride in the cargo area of pickup trucks
- Use guards and safeguard devices on machinery
- Never reach into, or perform maintenance on, any equipment that has not been properly shut down
Do you have teens working on your farm? What kind of on-the-job training do you provide to keep them safe during their tasks?
Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania College of Technology
