Ag employers use Harvust's safety training software to administer tens of thousands of farmworker trainings every year. As we approach the harvest season, I've analyzed this data across companies and crops to highlight the most essential safety topics our growers choose to train their employees on. Use this to improve your farm's safety training program.
5. Lockout/Tagout
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) is a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and cannot be started up again before the completion of maintenance or repair work. It's crucial because it prevents unexpected equipment startup, protecting ag workers from serious injuries or fatalities caused by the release of hazardous energy. We see this training used more among growers with warehouse/packing operations.
⬇️ View and download our free lockout/tagout training
4. Power Take Off (PTO)
Power Take Off (PTO) safety involves precautions to prevent injuries from the rotating driveshafts that transfer power from tractors to attached implements. It's important because contact with a spinning PTO can lead to severe injuries or death, making it essential to use shields, guards, and proper procedures to stay safe. While equipment operators are the most exposed, some of our growers send this training to all employees, which is a good idea since most farmworkers will encounter a tractor in the field.
⬇️ View and download our free PTO safety training
Bonus thoughts:
Lockout/Tagout and PTO safety being #5 and #4 makes total sense as farmworkers themselves often cite equipment as the most hazardous part of their jobs. The top three trainings are for hazards that aren't frequently mentioned by employees, but are by regulators, activists, and academics. Growers on Harvust are able to respond to farmworker concerns via our anonymous comment feature. They can respond by messaging workers directly, or as we see here, changing their safety training programs. Both actions save the farm money in the long run by preventing accidents and associated costs, lawsuits, etc.
3. Wildfire Smoke
Regulatory agencies now recognize that exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to serious health risks. They (CA, OR, & WA) have implemented new rules with a mandatory training component. This training is used by both growers and those with warehouse operations. While it might not make sense, warehouses are also doing this training to be extra-compliant due to workers who move between indoor and outdoor spaces around loading/receiving docks. Our growers use our wildfire smoke training with our automated wildfire smoke alerts that go directly to employees' phones. Here are links to our trainings for you to use:
2. Heat Illness
Like smoke, agencies are now creating and enforcing (heavily!) rules around the hazards of high heat. Several states have rules on this, including some like California, which now has indoor heat rules. Again, like smoke, our growers use it with our automated high heat alerts. The push for heat illness regulations is starting to see traction at the federal OSHA level, with groups like UFW pushing heavily for it.
1. Worker Protection Standard
It should be no surprise that the Worker Protection Standard is the most popular training in agriculture. Almost every farm is required to show these videos to every new hire. Harvust hosts these videos on our platform, so you don't have to use YouTube and pay your new hires to sit through ads before and during the video.
If creating and implementing a farm safety training program feels overwhelming, get in touch. We'll help you design one specifically for your operation and give you the tools to successfully execute it.
