Farm Safety
Tractor driving in crop field
Farm Safety Quick Links
The agriculture industry, grouped with forestry, fishing, and hunting, consistently ranks in the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. The purpose of this program is to provide guidance for the safe operation of tractors and awareness of other farm-related hazards.
This program applies to all departments that have personnel that work on farms, or who operate farm-related machinery and equipment, regardless of location. Departments must ensure that a competent person is designated to provide oversight for farm-related work and that personnel operating tractors have attended related safety training. Training may also be required for other hazards, such as confined space entry, fall hazards, machinery shop safety, and electrical safety.
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Responsibilities
Departmental, supervisory, and employee/student roles and responsibilities.
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Training
Personnel who will be operating tractors must attend Farm Safety training offered by Environmental Health & Safety at the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter.
Training will address the following topics:
- Safe operation and servicing of certain equipment, including tractors;
- Prohibition of extra riders on tractors;
- Common hazards (i.e. rollover, entanglement, hazardous energy sources);
- Safe operation, including stability, hitching and driving on slopes ;
- Rollover protection (ROPS) requirements; and
- Machine guarding and shielding.
Additional training may be required depending on the hazard exposed to during agricultural work.
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Other Farm Related Hazards
ATVs, animal handling, confined spaces, electrical hazards, machinery and equipment, and many other farm-related hazards.
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Contact Information
Robin McCall-Miller, Occupational Safety Program Manager
- Call: 540-231-2341
- Email: rmmiller@vt.edu