You might think of farms as peaceful settings. Actually, farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Farms have many health and safety hazards, including

• Chemicals and pesticides
• Machinery, tools and equipment that can be dangerous
• Hazardous areas, such as grain bins, silos and wells
• Livestock that can spread diseases or cause injuries

Farming injuries are very common. Physical labor and accidents can cause injuries.

Most farm accidents involve machinery. Proper machine inspection and maintenance can help prevent accidents. Using safety gloves, goggles and other protective equipment can also reduce accidents.

What are Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs)?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are currently 450,000 Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) in the United States. AFOs are confined spaces where animals are raised. If an animal operation keeps animals confined for at least 45 days in a 12 month period and there is no grass or other vegetation in the area during the normal growing period, then it is considered an AFO. These operations are an efficient way for farmers and ranchers to maintain livestock. AFOs contain animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations in one combined land space. According to EPA, AFOs create more than 500 million tons of waste every year. Depending on water sources, AFOs can pose a potential risk for contaminating agricultural crops. It is important to ensure that AFOs are positioned correctly so that runoff does not impact nearby waterways, wells or other water sources.

AFOs and Pollutants

Pollutants from AFOs can be harmful to human and animal life. They can result in reduced biodiversity and death of fish populations. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution can contribute to algal blooms which can potentially result in negative health effects in animals and humans. Nitrates, which are transformed from nitrogen in manure or from fertilizers, are the most commonly found contaminant in drinking water wells. Nearly 4.5 million people in the United States are exposed to high levels of nitrates from well sources. Microbes that affect animals, such as Cryptosporidium, can also affect humans and cause illness.

The following pollutants can potentially affect the water quality located near an AFO:

Nutrients
Includes nitrogen, ammonia, and phosphorus which can reduce oxygen in surface waters, encourage the growth of harmful algal blooms, and contaminate drinking water.

Organic Matter
Animal waste, vegetable matter, etc.

Pathogens
Include parasites, bacteria, and viruses which cause disease in humans.

Solids
Solid matter such as feed and feathers, which can limit the growth of desirable aquatic plants in surface waters and protect disease-causing microorganisms.

Pesticides & Hormones
Researchers have associated pesticides and hormones with hormone-related changes in fish.

Antibiotics
The presence of antibiotics may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Trace elements
Includes arsenic and copper, which can contaminate surface waters and possibly harm human health.

Sediments

Heavy metals

EPA Inspection of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

EPA inspects livestock facilities to ensure that they are operating according to U.S. federal laws. While visiting an AFO an EPA inspector will gather information to help EPA determine whether the livestock facility qualifies as a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). There are a variety of factors that are taken into consideration to determine whether a facility is a CAFO. Some of these factors include size of the facility, number of animals, and types of manure handling systems used. Regardless of the size of the facility, EPA may classify a facility as a CAFO if it determines that the operation is the source of a significant amount of pollution. If an EPA inspector determines that the operation qualifies as a CAFO, the facility operator is required to apply for a permit and follow certain guidelines.

In addition to federal requirements, some states have their own requirements for CAFOs. Contact your EPA regional contact to find out who to contact on the state level.

Some people may think a farm is a quiet place, but if you live or work on one, you know that isn’t always the case. Combines, tractors, and even farm animals can create a noisy environment that puts your hearing at risk. The following tips can help parents teach children who live or work on a farm how to prevent hearing loss from too much noise.

Be alert to potentially damaging sounds on the farm.

• A tractor with a closed cab, on average, can expose the operator to noise levels of about 85 decibels. Prolonged exposure to any noise at or above 85 decibels can cause gradual, and permanent, hearing loss.
• A tractor without a cab, a woodshop, or pig squeals can reach 100 decibels or higher—roughly the same noise level as a snowmobile. Try to limit your exposure to noises at or above 100 decibels to less than 15 minutes, if you don't have hearing protectors handy.
• Grain dryers and chain saws can reach 110 decibels or higher, about the same noise level as a rock concert. Regular unprotected exposure of more than 1 minute to sounds that are 110 decibels or higher risks permanent hearing damage.

Take steps to reduce noise from machinery.

• Keep machinery running smoothly by replacing worn parts. Be sure engines are well lubricated and properly tuned to reduce noise from friction or vibrations.
• Put barriers between you and the noise, such as an acoustically designed cab on ride-on equipment or an insulated engine cover or barrier on stationary equipment.
• Install noise-reducing mufflers on engines.

Help protect your family from excessive farm noise.

• Be aware of noise levels that put your hearing at risk. If you are running a piece of farm equipment and you have to shout to be heard over the noise, then you should likely be wearing hearing protectors. Any noise that leaves you or your child feeling stressed, or that leaves a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears, is too loud for any length of time without hearing protectors.
• Get hearing protectors and become comfortable using them. Hearing protectors reduce harmful levels of sound. Although carrying on a conversation may be more difficult in some situations, you will still be able to hear warning signals, which is very important for safety. Try out earmuffs before you buy them to ensure that the fit is right. Wear earplugs or earmuffs in and around the house so you become comfortable and familiar with how things sound when you are wearing them.
• Point out situations where family members should practice hearing safety. Remind your child to do chores or other activities away from noisy equipment, or to wear hearing protectors when the chore involves noisy equipment.
• Post signs in potentially noisy areas. Use signs to identify work areas or equipment for which hearing protectors are essential.
• Keep hearing protectors on hand in potentially noisy areas. Ask family members to wear them whenever they are in these areas. Equipment may start up without notice or emit a sudden blast of noise. Very loud noises, even if they last for only a short time, can cause immediate and permanent hearing damage.

Hearing safety is an important part of farm safety.

The North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks were developed by the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety to help parents determine when children ages 7 to 16 can safely handle different farm chores. They advise the use of hearing protectors for certain chores that may put children's hearing at risk.

By taking some basic safety precautions and being a positive role model, you can teach your child how to have healthy hearing for life. At the same time, you will also be protecting your own hearing.

Decibel values for farm noises were obtained from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health website, the National Agricultural Safety Database, and various state Cooperative Extension Service publications. Note that decibel values can vary widely according to many factors, including age, make, and model of the machinery; the operation being performed; and the amount of maintenance received. Furthermore, a person just inches away from the source is experiencing much higher decibel levels than someone standing 100 feet away.

Over the past few decades, the increase in population and advances made in farming technology has increased the demand for crops and livestock from the agricultural industry. This growth in agricultural production has resulted in an increase in contaminants polluting soil and waterways. The increase in contaminants has prompted efforts to reduce the amount of pollutants in waterways in order to improve overall water quality.

Sources

Agriculture in many parts of the world is highly efficient in producing and delivering high-quality products to consumers. However, when agricultural activities are not well-monitored and managed, certain practices can negatively affect water quality.

Agricultural Runoff

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is pollution that comes from many diffuse sources, unlike pollution from point sources such as industrial and sewage treatment plants. “Polluted runoff is created by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into watersheds via lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water”.

In 2002, in the National Water Quality Inventory report to U.S. Congress, the states reported that agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is the leading cause of river and stream impairment and the second leading cause of impairment in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.

Agricultural activities that cause nonpoint source pollution include:

• Poorly managed animal feeding operations
• Overgrazing
• Overworking the land (for example, plowing too often)
• Poorly managed and ineffective application of pesticides, irrigation water, and fertilizer

Effects

Agricultural water can become contaminated through a variety of ways and can potentially spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites to crops and animals.

Crop Production

Fresh fruits and vegetables come in contact with water during various stages of the production process. Contaminated water that is used during crop production, harvesting, and processing can lead to health issues.

Below is a list of the potential food production points where contaminated water sources can affect crop production:

• Chemical Application
  Crops with contaminated water used for pesticide or herbicide application. Water used for mixing chemicals should be of appropriate quality.
• Irrigation
  Irrigating crops with contaminated water. Water used for irrigation should be of appropriate quality.
• Worker Hygiene
  Lack of potable water for hand hygiene. There should be an established handwashing and hygiene policy for farm workers.
• Food Processing
  Wash crops in the final wash process with quality water. Water should be of drinking water quality and should not be recycled.

People who consume fruit or vegetables that were exposed to contaminated water are at risk of developing a foodborne illness. Some of the bacteria that are spread through water within the United States include E. coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Toxoplasma, norovirus, and hepatitis A virus. Irrigation of foods imported from international locations can spread these and other microbes (for example, Cyclospora) not usually found in developed countries. Small amounts of any of these organisms can cause foodborne illness. In order to keep microbes out of water sources, growers should use practices that are appropriate for their operation and make sure that they are using the best quality water. Water quality is also important in ensuring post harvest quality by decreasing decay.

Animal Health

It is important that livestock are provided with adequate amounts of quality water, free of contamination. Contaminated water can contain disease-causing organisms which can rapidly spread if animals are drinking from the same trough. If there is reason to question the quality of the water that is provided to livestock, it is important to test the water to ensure its safety. There are many chemicals and microorganisms that can be potentially dangerous to livestock. Some chemicals include nitrates, sulfates, and chemicals found in pesticides like DDT, Chlordane, and Endrin. Certain microorganisms such as blue-green algae, Cryptosporidium, or Staphylococcus, can be toxic to animals and cause symptoms like diarrhea, lack of coordination, labored breathing, or death. Ill animals can then release millions of infectious microbes into the soil that can further contaminate other water sources.