As stated on the OSHA homepage for agricultural operations, “Agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the nation. Farming is one of the few industries in which the families (who often share the work and live on the premises) are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries.” These dangers are compounded when most farmworkers are Latino, and even Spanish may be their second language. Their understanding of English is often limited, making them an especially vulnerable work force.
To help growers comply with existing laws, and to draw together resources from many states, a Christmas tree farm safety web site has been developed.
Information is organized in several categories including general farm safety, equipment safety, shearing safety, pesticide safety (by far the biggest section), and harvest safety. Many resources are available in Spanish. There are links to pertinent laws, laws for record keeping, forms to record worker training, and videos on many topics.
So check it out at: www.ces.ncsu.edu/Christmastrees/farm-safety