Farm Safety Practices: Reports from Rural Youth in North Carolina

Abstract

Farms require an extensive labor force to meet production demands. In rural areas, the demand is greater, and farm operators must often rely on family members, including youth, who face unique risks due to farming practices. This quantitative study examined rural high school agricultural education programs in which students participate in family farming operations. The purpose of this study was to determine rural youths’ knowledge about farm safety and health hazards. Participants completed class activities related to farm safety and participated in farm safety demonstrations. It was found that most students reported being slightly knowledgeable about and practiced safety farming practices. It was concluded that, while most students reported having knowledge of farm safety practices, they fail to always practice them. The researchers recommend youth and at a younger age of diverse backgrounds received more farm safety practice initiatives in order to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities.