On-the-job illness and injury affect agricultural workers

April 11, 2013

Employees in Arizona are fortunate to have the protection of workers' compensation coverage when they are hurt or become ill on the job. Workers' compensation benefits pay for medical expenses and may provide replacement income when a worker is unable to go back to work.

Agricultural employees may not be fully aware of the hazards that present when the workplace is a farm or ranch. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has extensive information concerning safety in all kinds of work environments, including agricultural locations.

Accidents

According to OSHA, in 2009, 575 agricultural workers died on the job in the U.S. Almost half of these deaths resulted from vehicle accidents. Many injuries are also the result of such accidents.

Falls are a significant cause of injury. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that farm workers had a higher incidence of nonfatal falling injuries than workers in mining, manufacturing or transportation. Over the five-year period from 2004 to 2009, 157 farm workers died in falls.

Workers are also at risk of injuries from machinery and equipment accidents. Tools that farmworkers use every day may have sharp cutting edges. Hand tools should be properly maintained and stored to minimize the risk of injury. Electrical tools need to be grounded and insulated. Protective equipment can help workers avoid injury, but it must be worn properly, with no loose strings that can get tangled in the equipment.

Exposure to chemicals

Chemicals commonly used in agriculture can be hazardous to workers' health. Toxic pesticides can be harmful for anyone who mixes or applies these chemicals, as they can spill and can drift when sprayed. Pesticides can also hurt workers who harvest crops or do hand work on a sprayed field. Contact with water on and near fields can be dangerous, as the chemicals could be dissolved in rain or irrigation water. The toxic effects can be short-term or can lead to chronic illness.

The role of high temperatures

Arizona is extremely hot during the summer months, and heat-related illness is serious. From 1992 to 2009, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services, nearly 1,500 people died in Arizona due to heat exposure. Almost 800 people are admitted to hospitals in the state each year with illnesses caused by heat.

Employers should make sure that field workers can take regular breaks when working in Arizona heat and that plenty of water is available. Farm and ranch workers will benefit from wearing light clothing and hats and using sunscreen.

Everyone on the job should know the signs of heat-related illness. In mild stages, heat can cause leg and abdominal cramps. As heat-related illness progresses, a person can suffer heat exhaustion, in which the person can experience nausea, dizziness and exhaustion, but body temperature is not dangerously elevated.

If heat affects progress, heat stroke can occur and urgently needs medical attention. The body ceases to sweat to cool off. Heat stroke can be deadly, with body temperatures soaring, resulting in brain damage.

What to do if ill or injured

An agricultural worker who is hurt or becomes ill in the workplace should look into applying for workers' compensation. The law is complicated, and an attorney can see to it that the worker's rights are protected. In order to obtain benefits, it is important to meet deadlines and follow proper procedures for obtaining medical care. An attorney will make sure everything is in order.

Article provided by Crossman Law Offices, P.C.
Visit us at www.azworkinjury.com