If you get hurt on the job, your employer is required by law to pay for workers' compensation benefits. You could get hurt by a sudden accident at work or by exposure to chemicals, loud noise or doing the same motion over and over.
Agriculture is among the most hazardous industries in the United States. Many farmworkers fear contamination from agricultural chemicals and pesticides, but injuries from chemical exposure make up only 2 percent of the total.
Although employers are required to provide drinking water on the job, many workers don't drink enough of it. Some may feel their supervisor doesn't approve or they don't want to take time out when working at a piece rate. Others tend to wait until they feel thirsty.
The most common and costly agricultural injuries are back injuries. Many back injuries are related to lifting and carrying heavy loads. Awkward postures and slips and falls are also common causes of back injuries.
The stress of workplace conflicts can put farmworkers at a greater risk for on-the-job injuries. Frustration and anger can distract workers from their focus on the task at hand and on completing that task safely and properly.
