First Aid and Safety Training for Oregon Agricultural Producers
Agricultural Issues
Jacob Powell
Assistant Professor (Practice)
OSU Extension Service
Moro
Abstract
Agriculture remains one of the top ten most dangerous occupations in the United States. The agriculture industry in Oregon over the last ten years has had the greatest number of fatalities compared to other occupations in the state. In 2021 agriculture accounted for 18% of the total fatalities in occupation injuries in Oregon. OSU Extension Service in North Central Oregon has developed and implemented educational programing over the past four years to reduce fatalities and injuries to farmers working in fruit orchards and field crops through improved understanding of how to prevent common farm accidents, along with providing in depth first aid skills and updates on OSHA regulations to reduce risks to human health and legal liability. In depth first aid and farm safety training was provided at reduced cost to both English and Spanish speaking farmers across Oregon through eight in person classes in 2025 thanks to grant funding from the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Over 100 farmers have participated so far through in person programming in 2025. An online class is also being developed to make training available on demand. This presentation will focus on how extension can help meet local interest for first aid and safety training focused for farmers in rural areas. Impacts from this training will also be shared with a focus on how to evaluate extension programming focused on improving farming safety. Equipment to consider for first aid training, safety training, and bilingual teaching will be shared as well.
Authors: Jacob Powell
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Jacob Powell Assistant Professor (Practice), Oregon State University Extension, Oregon, 97058