Agriculture
Every year, agriculture workers in Washington state experience injuries or illnesses that may limit their ability to perform their jobs in the agriculture industry. Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries in the country, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It is also one of the few industries in which whole families can be at risk for injury, illness or death because children, spouses and other relatives often work and live together on farms, ranches and other agricultural worksites.
On this page, you will find the rules, recommendations and training to keep you and those you care about working safely in the agriculture industry.
Rules
General Rules
- Agriculture, Safety standards for (Chapter 296-307, WAC)
Policies
Non-Agricultural Use of Pesticides (WIIM 98-2-A)- Head Protection and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) (WRD 5.92)
- Pesticides in Agriculture (WRD 33.25)
- Cholinesterase Monitoring (WRD 33.27)
- Sheepherder Housing (WRD 33.72)
- Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) and Low-Profile Tractors (WRD 33.20)
- Outdoor Heat Exposure Enforcement Procedures (WRD 10.15)
- Bathroom and Toilet Facility Access (WRD 5.98)
- Field Sanitation for Agriculture Workers (WRD 33.80)
Hazard Alerts, Bulletins & Notices
- "Gray Market" Kubota Tractors
- Agricultural Tractor-Related Accidents Cause Seven Fatalities in Washington State (English & Spanish) (647 KB PDF)
- Amputations from Augers in Grain Bins (113 KB PDF)
- Fatal Collapse of Bulk Materials Storage Wall (278 KB PDF)
- Fatal Hazard - Five brush pickers die in unsafe vehicle (121 KB PDF)
- Fatal Hazards in Agriculture: Two Boys Die in Silo (62 KB PDF)
- Injuries from Produce-bagging Machinery (247KB PDF)
- Motorized rollers cause serious injuries in Washington orchards (584 KB PDF)
- Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers
Training Materials
Videos
Please read an important message about videos in the DOSH Safety & Health Video
Library.
Important:
Some videos may contain code violations or information inconsistent with Washington State's Safety & Health rules.
Many commercially produced safety and health videos are based on Federal OSHA Standards. Federal OSHA standards may not be as stringent as the Washington State Industrial Safety and Health Standards. Every effort has been made by the library to evaluate the videos before purchasing them. Safety and Health Standards may have changed since the time of purchase. The user assumes the responsibility of previewing the videos before showing and using it with a knowledgeable instructor.
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Other Resources
Please read an important message about links on this page.
Important:
"Links" to other information sources are provided as a courtesy, but we cannot vouch for or take responsibility for information contained beyond files administered by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Links from this page do not represent or imply the endorsement of commercial products by the State of Washington, Labor and Industries, or by departmental staff. For more information, read L&I's Intended Usage policy.
- Agriculture Safety Tailgate Talks (From Ohio State University)
- Agriculture, Field Sanitation Checklist (English-Espaņol)
- Animal Caretaker Breaks Arm and Wrist After Ladder Fall
- Benefit-Cost Determination: Cholinesterase Monitoring In Agriculture, Wac 296-307-148, Washington State Department Of Labor And Industries, December 2, 2003
- Cholinesterase Monitoring - for Providers, Information for Medical Providers
- Cholinesterase Monitoring of Pesticide Handlers in Agriculture, Report to the Legislature As required by RCW 49.17.288
- Emergency Washing Workshop
- Hay Buyer Fractures Skull, Breaks Shoulder Falling off Feed Table
- Manure Pit Gas Dangers (NIOSH alert)
- Motorized Rollers Hazard Alert
- Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH)
- WISHA Recommended Periodic Training and/or Certification, for Agriculture,
- Worker crushed by falling hay bales (DOSH Fatality Bulletin)
- Work-related Agricultural Fatalities in Washington State, 1998-2005
