Agricultural Safety

Fact Sheet
Emergency Preparedness for Farmworkers
Farms, like most workplaces, face unexpected emergencies and disasters. Agricultural
emergencies and disasters can be natural or man-made. To help lessen the impact of these
events, employers and supervisors should develop and exercise an emergency action plan that
prepares workers to react to and handle emergencies and disasters before they occur.

What is an Emergency Action How to Prepare an Emergency

Plan (EAP)? Action Plan
An emergency action plan identifies and organizes employer and A well-documented EAP should ensure that emergency response
worker responsibilities in preparation for and when responding to a procedures are established for before, during, and after an
workplace emergency or disaster. Having a plan with the employer’s emergency. The plan should be broad enough to address all types
support and commitment and workers’ participation is key to an of emergencies or disasters that could possibly occur on the farm.
orderly evacuation and quick response. Developing and implementing For smaller organizations, the EAP does not need to be written
an EAP can lessen confusion, decrease injuries, and limit destruction and may be communicated orally. Nevertheless, it is always a
of property during and after a disaster or other emergency. good practice to have a written emergency action plan. The best
EAPs are customized for your specific farm operations and require
Agricultural Emergencies time, thought and planning. Include workers and family members
in the emergency preparedness planning process to help identify
Natural: emergency or disaster situations that can impact the farm. The EAP
• tornadoes • severe winter storms should be revised once shortcomings have become known, and
• hurricanes • severe dust storms reviewed at least annually. The employer should review the EAP
• wildfires • lightning strikes with each worker when:
• floods • earthquakes • A new worker is hired • The worker’s workplace
• The plan is developed responsibilities or designated
Man-made:
actions under the plan change.
• wildfires • chemical releases or spills
• explosions or fires • amputations At a minimum, the EAP should include:
• animal handling incidents • vehicle incidents (turnovers, • Emergency escape procedures and routes.
• grain entrapments rollovers) • Procedures to account for workers.
• power failures • workplace violence • Procedures for workers who remain on site after the alarm sounds.
• rotating and moving • accidental poisoning • Duties for workers designated to perform rescue and
equipment incidents medical functions.
(Power take-off shafts, • The preferred means for reporting emergencies.
screw conveyors/augers) • Contact(s) for further information or explanation of duties under
the plan.

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• Possible emergency events, incidents and life-threating situations. Training
• Emergency escape routes, shelter-in-place locations, and
Worker training may vary from operation to operation. Some
rally points.
employers set up formal classroom-style training for workers and
• Floor plans and workplace maps.
others work one-on-one with workers. If workers are expected
• A chain of command to prevent confusion and to coordinate
to perform adequately in an emergency, provision must be made
the work.
for the training of both individuals and teams. Regardless of the
• Emergency communication equipment, such as two-way
training approach, worker training is an important part of a good
radios or a public address system for workers and first
emergency preparedness plan. Training should be conducted
responder notification.
periodically or as needed to maintain workplace preparedness.
• Special equipment needed for emergencies and disaster response.
In addition, training and training materials should be provided
• Workers’ next-of-kin emergency phone numbers and contacts.
to workers in a language that they understand, because some
• Farm inventory that includes location of livestock, electrical
workers may not speak English.
shut-off locations, buildings and structures, and farm
machinery/equipment makes and model numbers. Workers should be trained in the
• Needed supplies, such as sandbags, fire extinguishers, gas- following areas:
powered generators and hand tools.
• If needed, location of primary and secondary areas to relocate • Evacuation plans • Shutdown procedures
farm assets and workers. • Alarm systems • Types of potential
• Location of buildings in the vicinity that can be used as a • Reporting procedures for emergencies
command post or logistical assistance area. personnel

Farm Exercises and Drills

The employer should make workers aware of the po- Unless the plan is tested, it is difficult to predict all of the problems
tential man-made and natural workplace emergency
that may happen. Exercises and drills are excellent tools to minimize
situations that could have an impact on the farm.
these potential problems. Nevertheless, exercises and drills should
be conducted annually or as needed to practice all or critical
portions (such as evacuation) of the emergency response plan.
Preplanning with First Responders After each drill, exercise, or emergency incident, a meeting
Implementing and exercising an emergency action plan should or review should be held to evaluate what happened, why it
involve working with your local first responders or fire department. happened, and how it can be done better by the employer and
Invite them to walk your farm to gather and record important worker(s) in the future. Furthermore, post exercise and drill
information that could be critical for making life-saving decisions meetings or reviews will identify areas that require improvements.
at an incident, such as a grain bin entrapment, fire or natural
disaster. Pre-planning allows first responders to become familiar Medical Service and First Aid
with the following: At least one person or persons, in the absence of an infirmary, clinic,
• Farm’s physical layout, including buildings and other structures. or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, should be adequately
(e.g., grain bins) trained to render first aid. It is also essential that basic first-aid
• Hazardous chemicals (e.g., pesticides, anhydrous ammonia) supplies are available. Emergency phone numbers should be posted
and equipment (e.g., augers, PTOs). in visible places, inside farm vehicles, and on telephones.
• Locations where employees would be if an emergency For more information on first aid, see OSHA’s Best Practices
occurred; important contacts, including daytime and nighttime Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program at
contact Information. www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3317first-aid.pdf.
• How utilities (e.g., electric, gas and water) can be controlled.
• Evacuation plans, security, etc.
• Emergency first responder limitations.

U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

Workplace Emergency Response Team
A farm’s most valuable asset during the first few minutes of an
emergency is a well-trained and disciplined emergency response
team. A farm emergency response may be provided by an outside
organization, such as the fire department or in some cases, the
farm’s internal emergency response team. Workers who are
members of the emergency response team should be thoroughly
trained and physically capable of performing emergency response
duties and responsibilities. They should also be knowledgeable
about the hazards found on the farm.

Photo: iStock
Team members should know when to take actions themselves or
to wait on outside assistance when an emergency or disaster is
too large to handle (i.e., the fire department). Workers’ Rights
One or more members on the team should be trained in: Workers have the right to:
• How and when to use various types of fire extinguishers • Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.
• First aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) • Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary
• Shutdown procedures the worker understands) about workplace hazards, methods
• Chemical spill control procedures to prevent them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their
• Emergency rescue procedures workplace. Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they
Contractors believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not
Employers should alert contractors about the hazards found in the following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential.
workplace, particularly regarding the work they are to perform. • Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including
In any emergency situation, contractors should be able to take reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with
appropriate action as part of the EAP. their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against
for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as
soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.
For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers page.

For questions or to get information or advice, to report an emergency, fatality, inpatient hospitalization, amputation,
or loss of an eye, to file a confidential complaint, or to request OSHA’s free on-site consultation service, contact your
nearest OSHA office, visit www.osha.gov, or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.
For more information on ATV safety and other issues affecting farmworkers, visit OSHA’s Safety and
Health Topics Agricultural Operations website at www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/agriculturaloperations.
DSG FS-3870 06/2016

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any
new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to
Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.
The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)