An injury at work has an impact on the whole family. Being cautious and aware of hazards when you do your job will keep you healthy and employed. Falls are the third most common cause of all injuries and the cause of the most serious injuries for orchard workers. Some common causes of falls on the farm are improper ladder use, jumping off equipment and leaping across ditches. Many falls can be avoided with common sense, such as wearing appropriate boots or shoes, detouring around wet or slippery surfaces and walking at a safe speed.
Sixty-seven percent of workplace falls are from ladders. In the United States, more than 30,000 people are injured each year in ladder-related accidents. The leading cause is improper use of ladders. Ladders are assigned a duty rating that indicates its maximum load – the combined weight of the user and materials. Check to make sure the ladder you are using is strong enough for your job.
Use the right type of ladder for the job. For example, don't use a ladder with shoes designed to prevent skidding on concrete on an orchard floor, and don't use a ladder with spikes for stabilizing it on soil on a hard surface. Always inspect ladders for defects and don't use it if rungs, steps or braces are damaged. Wood ladders should not be painted because this may disguise flaws or weak areas in the wood.
Be aware that mud or fruit from the ground can stick to the bottom of shoes and make your footing slippery. Likewise, keep ladder steps clear of mud, fruit waste or other debris.
When picking fruit, never go above the third rung from the top of a ladder and hold on by the side rails, not the rungs. When harvesting it's usually best to start from the top and avoid overfilling your bag or basket. Reach for fruit only at an arm's distance, and remember that it's easy to lose your balance because your weight plus the bag or basket's weight can pull you down.
Employers should have an emergency response plan ready should a fall happen. This includes work crews being trained to call 911 and to not move an injured worker suspected of having a neck or spinal injury. Also, supervisors and workers should be trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR.