It’s National Farm Health And Safety Week (19- 23 September)

National Farm Health and Safety Week

National Farm Health and Safety Week is during the third week of September. It’s in this week because that’s when farmers start laboriously planting their crops for the year, and injuries in terms of farm safety statistics drop dramatically. Additionally, this is the time of year when many farm accidents occur. 

Sometimes they happen in the field, on the road, or in the grain bin. Between 400 and 500 farmers perish annually on average. Each year, a third of farm workers suffer non-fatal injuries.

What is This Year’s Theme?

The theme for the 2023 edition of National Farm Health and Safety Week has not been released as yet. As soon as the information becomes available, we will update the blog accordingly.

The History of National Farm Health and Safety Week

President Obama delivered an official proclamation in September 2015 to emphasize agriculture’s significance to society and the economy and highlight the necessity of health and safety measures on farms. 

The farmers and ranchers of the United States have been instrumental in advancing their nation’s progress and creating a brighter future for future generations. Across many countries, those who work on farms support their economy and nourish their people by supplying what they need at the most human level. 

This week, let us acknowledge the unwavering dedication and commitment of agricultural farmers and their families and reiterate our determination to enhance the health and safety of everyone in the farming industry.

Throughout its history, National Farm Health and Safety Week resources have transitioned from development and dissemination by the National Safety Council to handling by the National Education Center for Ag Safety (NECAS). 

Since 1997, NECAS has supported farm families and businesses as the agricultural arm of the National Safety Council. NECAS is also the name of the organization. They offer several courses and resources to farmers every year to improve their overall health and well-being. Read our article and find out everything about World Health Day – April 7th.

The Daily Topics of Focus in 2022

• Monday, September 19, 2022 – Tractor safety & rural roadway safety
• Tuesday, September 20, 2022 – Overall farmer health
• Wednesday, September 21, 2022 – Safety & health for youth in agriculture
• Thursday, September 22, 2022 – Confined spaces
• Friday, September 23, 2022 – Safety & health for women in agriculture

How to Register for the AgriSafe Webinars

During National Farm Health and Safety Week, AgriSafe will present two free webinars about the day’s area of attention. These webinars will take place each day. Participants must register once to gain access to any NFSHW webinars.

Previous NFSHW Themes

2014

Safety Counts: protecting what matters

September 21 to 27, 2014

2015

Ag safety is a lifestyle, not just a slogan

September 20 to 26, 2015

2016

Farm safety; a legacy to be proud of

September 18 to 24, 2016

2017

Putting farm safety into practice

September 17 to 23, 2017

2018

Cultivating the seeds of safety

September 16 to 22, 2018

2019

Shift farm safety into high gear

September 15 to 21, 2019

2020

National farm safety and health week

September 20 to 26, 2020

2021

Farm safety yields real results

September 19 to 25, 2021

2022

Recipe for averting disaster

September 19 to 23, 2022

How to Celebrate NFSHW

You can celebrate this special day in the following ways;

• Make a point of visiting the National Education Center for Agricultural safety website.
• Use #FarmSafety or #FarmSafetyAndHealthWeek to connect on social media.

Final Thoughts

Working on a farm provides people of all ages with one of the most singular opportunities to explore many aspects of life. Across the world, the agriculture industry is responsible for employing very many people. A fantastic opportunity awaits those who can combine their job and home lives in the same location. 

However, because many consider working in agriculture the second most hazardous occupation, there is a significant amount of work that you need to do to enhance the working conditions, as well as the health and safety procedures in this sector.

When we look at the number of people who lost their lives from January to June 2020, the state of Victoria had the highest total, followed closely by Queensland and New South Wales. Quad bikes were the leading cause of fatalities on farms, followed by tractors as the second most common cause.

Individuals under the age of 15 are also at significant risk of injury or worse when working on a farm, even though the risk of injury or worse is significantly higher for people over 50 working on a farm. During National Farm Health and Safety Week, everyone needs to participate in the discourse about how we can make farms safer places to live and work.