Title: Identify risks/hazards in an agricultural operation.
Course: Agricultural Production Technology (18301-I) > Section: Demonstrating Safety Skills in Agricultural Production

Identification should include

- farm equipment and machinery hazards
- chemical hazards
- biological hazards, including arboviral, zoonotic, and other animal-borne infection hazards
- respiratory hazards (e.g., acute and chronic air contaminants, organic dust, pesticide drift, spores)
- electrical hazards
- livestock hazards
- farm infrastructure hazards
- confined space hazards
- heat hazards
- noise hazards
- water hazards (e.g., ditches, sloughs, rain barrels, farm ponds)
- weather hazards (e.g., flooding, storm hazards, winter hazards)
- tourist and public walkup hazards, including child hazards.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are some hazards related to tractor operation and how can they be minimized?
- Why is the power takeoff (PTO) on a tractor so dangerous?
- What are some hazards inherent to working around livestock?
- What additional considerations are necessary for nighttime farm operations?
- Why is it necessary to plan infrastructure around changes that weather patterns bring?
- Why is lawnmower safety particularly important?

Teacher Resources:

- Agricultural Safety, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Consumer Pesticide Safety, Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, Virginia Tech
- Farm & Agricultural Safety Training Program, Environmental Health and Safety, Virginia Tech
- Gearing up for Safety, Production Agriculture Safety Training for Youth, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Purdue University
- Virginia 4H State Lawn Tractor Operators Safety Contest Guidelines, Virginia Cooperative Extension