Common Work-Related Injuries in the Agricultural Industry

 Posted on September 16, 2021 in Personal Injury

Agriculture is the largest industry in North Carolina, employing more than 100,000 workers throughout the state each year. However, it is also one of the most dangerous industries for work-related injuries due to the physical labor involved and the presence of occupational hazards. Farmworkers who are injured on the job may be able to obtain relief through workers’ compensation benefits, or by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

Injury Risks for Farm Workers

Agricultural workers may be at risk of on-the-job injuries due to all of the following causes:

• Overexertion and repetitive stress - Farm labor often requires heavy lifting, bending, stooping, and repetitive motions over long periods of time. Workers may suffer injuries of the bones, muscles, tissues, and joints, whether due to one-time overexertion or ongoing stress.
• Heatstroke - Farm work takes place largely outdoors, often in high temperatures. Workers can suffer from injuries and conditions including heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hyperthermia, and dehydration.
• Equipment and traffic accidents - Agricultural employees often work with or around machinery and equipment including tractors, combines, planters, plows, and rakes. They may also be responsible for transporting agricultural materials on the roadway. Injuries may happen due to equipment malfunctions or rollovers, negligent operation, or traffic accidents.
• Chemical exposure - Farmworkers may be responsible for spraying pesticides or herbicides or working closely with crops that have been treated. These chemicals can be dangerous if they are ingested or inhaled, or if they come into contact with the skin or eyes.
• Grain bin accidents - Grain bin workers can suffer injuries due to particle inhalation or suffocation.

Options for Compensation

Some agricultural workers, especially those who work full-time for large farming operations, are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits through their employer if they are injured on the job. These benefits cover an employee’s medical expenses and part of their lost wages due to temporary or permanent disability. However, depending on the type of injury, employees may sometimes face challenges in demonstrating that their injuries were caused by their work.

Additionally, many temporary or contract farmworkers are not eligible for workers’ compensation. When this is the case, they will likely need to look to other sources of compensation for their injuries, such as a personal injury claim against a negligent employer or third party. Injured workers must be able to demonstrate that another party contributed to unsafe conditions in order to successfully pursue a personal injury claim.

Contact a Johnston County Work Injury Lawyer

If you are injured on the job, the experienced Smithfield work injury attorneys at Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC can help you determine how to proceed, either with a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim. We are committed to helping injured workers in all industries, including farm and agricultural workers. Call us for a free consultation at 1-844-YO-PELEO or 844-967-3536. Hablamos español.

Sources:

http://www.ncagr.gov/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/default.html

https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/a-look-at-workplace-safety-in-agriculture.htm