Environmental factors are perhaps the main source of concern in relation to the risk of injury or any damage to an employee on a farm or ranch.
The environment generally refers to the external conditions that affect work ,as well as the internal buildings and plant and machinery that also constitute a work environment.
In addition, there are a number of associated factors which affect any type of environment and are especially important on any type of agricultural land or farm.
Weather
It is perhaps a bit obvious to start with the factor of weather, but all types of weather play a huge part in farm production.
Farmers will be aware of the cycles of weather during all seasons of the year and will try and base their production cycle around that.
It is however a hugely difficult project and one were weather extremes, which are becoming more common by the day, affect a form management’s ability to do this.
The nature of any type of weather, be it normal patterns of hot or cold, or extremes of any type, can change dramatically within hours or days, making the planning of work processes around these conditions extremely difficult.
The risk that weather poses is perhaps twofold. Firstly is the danger and risk of how heat and cold affect an individual, especially given that they are likely to be working in these conditions for long periods of time.
Secondly is the associated risk of how different types of weather conditions can affect plant, machinery and tools, and how they can elevate the risks associated with using different types of vehicles or machinery.
Most types of farming are weather dependent to a large degree and if the weather is as predicted then workers will be encouraged to make the most of it and use it while it is how it is meant to be.
Different types of technology can help plan for better working conditions
Isolation
Alongside the weather conditions, many farm workers work in very isolated conditions. They either work exclusively on their own or in types of jobs where they are expected to be lone workers a lot of the time, with little management or supervision.
Much of the time this is fine, but it does mean that if there are any problems then quite often employees are on their own, physically and emotionally, and not easily able to contact another worker.
This issue of isolation needs to be thought out in advance and potential solutions put in place to make sure that any isolated worker can access help if needed.
Emergency Services
In many workplaces support is put in place in the event of an accident or injury being caused. The support can range from a first aid box through to calling emergency services.
On a farm it is a very different situation. While someone might be able to manage a minor injury or sprain, anything that is more serious can be much harder to deal with.
Often any emergency services are a long way away and not only would have a problem getting to a farm, but would also like you have problems accessing a remote area where a lone worker might be injured.
Personal Hygiene
Working on a farm means that often people get very dirty, smelly and generally quite unhygienic as a normal part of their daily routine.
This can be true whether working in a field, cleaning out pigs or dealing with livestock all day.
Whilst it is an acceptable, if not very nice, part of a farm workers job, the nature of these hygiene problems does create a number of risks to an individual’s health.
Often the individual will take care of their own hygiene needs, but it is also important that the farm has policies and procedures in place to make sure that they have time, space and resources to keep themselves clean and save from a hygiene point of view.
This can also include making sure that they have the necessary PPE, especially if they are dealing with any type of chemicals or dangerous senses.
Environmental Hazards
Any type of environment gives off a certain degree of acceptable hazards by way of things such as noise, vibration, lighting, dust etc.
In an office or warehouse type environment these types of risks are anticipated and normally dealt with through structural solutions.
On a farm or ranch this is much more difficult to do and can lead to these types of risk becoming more dangerous than they would be otherwise, simply because they are not monitored in a way that other types of industry would deal with them.
