National Farm Safety and Health Week Will Focus on “Protecting Agriculture’s Future”
The annual week will be held from September 18 to 22, 2022.
- By Alex Saurman
- Sep 16, 2022
The agriculture industry sees a high rate of fatal injuries.
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the fatal injury rate in 2020 was 18 deaths per 100,000 workers. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average fatal injury rate across all industries is 3.4 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Next week, employers and workers will recognize National Farm Safety and Health Week, an initiative that takes place yearly on the third week of September. During the week, many organizations offer information to educate people in the agriculture industry on safety and health. The theme for 2022 will focus on Protecting Agriculture’s Future.
The week is for workers at all levels in the agricultural industry, from farmworkers to health and safety professionals. Each day of the week will have a specific theme: Monday will be on tractor safety and rural roadway safety; Tuesday’s theme will be overall farmer health; Wednesday will be about safety and health for youth in agriculture; Thursday will focus on confined spaces; Friday will focus on safety and health for women in agriculture.
As part of the week, non-profit AgriSafe Network is hosting free daily webinars on a variety of topics. You can register for sessions on farm vehicle crashes, heat and wildfire smoke exposure, youth mental health, grain bin safety, injury prevention for women and more. Register for these webinars here. NIOSH also has resources and educational materials for each theme.
About the Author
Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.