Illinois is home to more than 76,000 famers. With an average death rate of approximately 25 people per 100,000 workers, agricultural work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As harvest begins, it’s important for farmers to put their health and safety first.
Here are five tips to keep the farmers in your life healthy and safe this harvest:

1.     Wear protective gear. Dr. Debra Phillips, director of the Rural Health Education and Research Center at SIU School of Medicine, says harvest is one of the most hazardous seasons for farmers. The Quincy family and community medicine physician says grain dust, which is a mixture of grain particles, soil, plant material, fungi, bacteria, residues from pesticides and insect excretions, is one of many reasons farmers should be extra cautious each fall. “Anytime you are around combines or grain movement, you have particulate matter, and it is not good for your lungs,” Dr. Phillips explains. Those who inhale the dust may experience anything from gastrointestinal issues and skin rashes to eye irritations and breathing problems. To prevent health issues related to grain dust, invest in protective gear such as respiratory masks and safety glasses.
2.    Apply sunscreen. Because farmers spend more time outdoors than the general population, the rate of skin cancer among farmers is much higher. To combat the sun’s harsh rays, choose a sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum” and opt for SPF 15 or higher.
3.    Avoid wearing loose clothing. Anytime someone is working near an auger or power takeoff shafts, he/she should be extra cautious of getting loose clothing caught. “A lot of times this equipment is older and the protective safety guards have been taken away,” says Dr. Phillips. “Having loose clothing or strings that can be grabbed into those is a big hazard.”
4.    Schedule a prostate exam. Research has shown a link between pesticide exposure and prostate cancer. In 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that American farmers used 1,133 million pounds of pesticides. Although many farmers applied pesticides earlier in the year, it’s a good idea to remind them to see their primary doctors as harvest wraps up. Dr. Phillips stresses to farmers, “Prostate exams are one of those tests you should not put off, and you should do it yearly.”
5.    Install rollover protection structures (ROPS) on tractors. Did you know that most farm-related accidents are caused by tractors? According to the CDC, more than half of all farm-related fatalities are caused by tractors, and of those, 25% are due to tractor overturns. Consider having a ROPS installed on all tractors to prevent injuries and deaths from tractor rollovers.
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