What it takes: Back and joint wear
Lifting feed and bales, bending in fields and hours on bouncing equipment load the lower back, hips and knees. Many farmers live with chronic back pain and arthritis.
Farmer
Dawn-to-dusk physical work outdoors, around machines and animals.
Farming is among the most dangerous jobs in the US. Long days of lifting, bending and machine operation wear on the back and joints; sun, heat, noise, dust and chemicals add slow damage; and tractors and livestock bring serious injury risk.
What it takes and what to do
What it takes: Sun, heat and skin cancer
Years of outdoor work in strong sun raise the risk of skin cancer, especially on the face, ears, neck and hands. Hot days in the field add heat illness.
What to do about Sun, heat and skin cancer
Wear sunscreen every dayDailyPut broad-spectrum SPF 30+ on exposed skin each morning and reapply every two hours outdoors. Wear sun-protective clothingAs neededCover up with a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses and tightly woven long sleeves when you are out in the sun. Check your skin for changesAs neededLook over your whole body on a regular schedule for new spots or moles that change, itch or bleed. Stay safe in the heatAs neededOn hot days, drink water often, take breaks in the shade and plan hard work for the cooler parts of the day.What it takes: Noise from machinery
Tractors, grain dryers, chainsaws and livestock barns can be loud enough to damage hearing. Hearing loss is common in farmers and builds without pain.
What to do about Noise from machinery
Protect your hearing from loud noiseAs neededWear earplugs or earmuffs around loud noise, turn the volume down and step away when you can. Get your hearing checkedYearlyAsk about a hearing test at your yearly checkup, especially if you work around noise or notice signs of hearing loss.What it takes: Dust, grain and pesticides
Grain dust, moldy hay and animal confinement buildings irritate the lungs and are linked to asthma-like symptoms. Pesticides can harm the skin, eyes and nervous system if handled without protection. Wear the chemical-resistant gloves and clothing the pesticide label calls for.
What to do about Dust, grain and pesticides
Wear a respirator for dust, fumes and smokeAs neededUse a properly fitted N95 or better respirator for dusty work and heavy wildfire smoke, and a cartridge respirator for gases and vapors. Wear eye protectionAs neededPut on safety glasses, goggles or a face shield for work, chores and hobbies that throw debris, chemicals or sparks.What it takes: Ticks and outdoor bites
Fields, woods and pastures are tick habitat. Tick bites can transmit Lyme disease and other infections.
What it takes: Machinery and livestock injuries
Tractor rollovers, entanglement in moving parts and injuries from large animals are leading causes of serious injury and death in agriculture. Fatigue at harvest time raises the risk. Use a tractor with a rollover protective structure and wear the seat belt. Shut off power before clearing a jam. Never enter a grain bin alone.
What to do about Machinery and livestock injuries
No daily practice fixes this one. Follow the steps described here.
When to see a professional
See a doctor for a new or changing mole or a sore that won't heal, a bull's-eye rash or fever after a tick bite, wheezing or a lingering cough, or back pain with leg numbness. Get help immediately for nausea, headache or blurred vision after handling pesticides: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 for trouble breathing. Ask about regular hearing and skin checks.