Occupational Health Hazards in Agriculture and

Remedial Measures
Prof. Rekha Vyas
Professor (FRM), Directorate of Planning and Monitoring
Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Raj)
INTRODUCTION :
Agriculture ranks as one of the most hazardous industry till today because it is very
much oriented towards manual labour and agricultural workers are exposed to a
tremendous variety of hazards that are potentially harmful to their health. The
diversified and seasonal nature of agricultural activities, mechanization and the
increasing use of pesticides bring special risks to agricultural workers. They are at
higher risk of death or disabling injury than most other workers are. They have an
increased prevalence of many acute and chronic health conditions. Hence safety and
prevention of occupational health hazards in agriculture assumes critical significance
Occupational health hazards refer to the potential risks to the health and safety for
those who work in agriculture sector. Hazards due to agricultural work could be the
direct cause of a disease, a contributing cause, or an aggravating factor in the onset
of chronic diseases. Farm workers often lack education and information on the health
hazards and often view pain as a normal part of work and seek care when the
condition becomes severe or disabling.
The problems faced by agricultural workers are interwoven and complex. One of the
difficulties in dealing with agriculture sector is that it is a very complex and
heterogeneous. It involves a number of specific situations that vary from region to
region and from highly mechanized agriculture to traditional methods as used by
small-scale farmers. Socio-economic and cultural factors also influence the working
and living conditions of the farmers intensifying their exposure to both general and
work hazards. The environment, in which rural people work and live, their standard
of living and their nutrition are also important to their health. Agricultural workers
are dependent on the public health services given by the government in rural areas,
where the provisions of health care are generally insufficient.
Prevention of occupational hazards and improving the health status of those working
in agriculture is the necessity of today. According to a study by Vyas & Singh (2008),
educational intervention can mitigate certain agricultural work hazards as it can
enhance the knowledge of the workers on hazards and safety practices while work.
They found that the knowledge of the agricultural workers after exposure to
educational intervention increased by 30-40 percent and that of safety increased by
35-45 percent.
Also there is lack of data on how many people are adversely affected by hazards as
agricultural workers work in remote and dispersed places and there are no effective
ways to find the exact rates of accidents and diseases in this sector. The majority of
production operations in agriculture are exempted from occupational health and
safety regulations and, as a result, the medical surveillance that occurs in other
industries does not or rarely occur in agriculture. Also current ergonomic research
and its application in developing countries are mainly focusing on the industrial
sector rather than agricultural work.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH : MEANING AND DEFINITION

Occupational health refers to the identification and control of the risks arising from
workplace hazards in order to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working
environment. A common definition of occupational health which has been adopted by
the Joint International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization
(WHO) states that :
"Occupational health should aim at the promotion and maintenance of
the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of
workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of
departures from health caused by their working conditions; the
protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from
factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker
in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and
psychological capabilities; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work
to man and of each man to his job.
The main focus of occupational health is on three different objectives:
i.
ii.
iii.

the maintenance and promotion of workers health and working capacity;

the improvement of working environment and work to become conducive to
safety and health and
development of work organizations and working cultures in a direction which
supports health and safety at work and in doing so also promotes a positive
social climate and smooth operation and may enhance productivity of the
undertakings.

HEALTH HAZARDS IN AGRICULTURE

Hazard represents the harm to the health of mankind either physically or mentally
due to work, work method or condition, environment, implements or tools used for
work, plants and animals in the surroundings. It is essential to know the agriculture
work hazards and their impact on human health so that safe work practices can be
adopted timely to preserve them.
1. Physical Hazards :
Physical hazards to agricultural workers may be caused due toi.

Extreme heat : Working outside on hot summer days in the fields expose the
agricultural workers to direct sunlight. High temperatures, high humidity and
sunlight increase the probability varying degrees of heat stress, heat stroke, heat
cramps, heat exhaustion and chronic photo-dermatitis. The indirect effects are
decreased efficiency, increased fatigue and enhanced accident rates. Heat causes
dilation of superficial blood vessels and thus leads to dehydration through overperspiration, it may cause leg edemas, cramps and fainting; it also facilitates
poisoning through cutaneous absorption and the spread of pesticides inside the
body. Heat can also fog up safety glasses or cause sweaty palms or dizziness, all
of which increase the risk of other injuries during work. Physical work under such
conditions is very stressful and impairs the health and efficiency of the
agricultural workers. Vyas and Singh (2005) in their study found that working in
hot climate with extreme temperature caused problem to approximately 80 per
cent of the agricultural workers.

ii. Extreme cold : During winter months many agricultural workers face an
additional occupational hazard - exposure to the cold. Some health problems that
arise due to cold include frostbite, trench foot and hypothermia. Environmental
conditions that cause cold related stresses are low temperature, cool high winds,

dampness and cold water. Rain and cold together can lead to respiratory
infections and chilblains that leave skin lesions liable to become infected. While
irrigating fields in winter cold was reported by 53 per cent of male and 70 per
cent of female agricultural workers (Vyas and Singh, 2005).
iii. Noise : Prolonged exposure of the agricultural workers to excessive noise
produced by tractors, combines, choppers, grain dryers and chainsaws can cause
permanent hearing loss unless noise-control measures are taken. The degree of
hearing loss depends on the length of time exposed to the noise and the intensity
(loudness) of the noise. Noise levels greater than 85 dB averaged over an 8-hour
period, places the human ear at risk of hearing loss. Noise-induced occupational
hearing loss is the disease that develops gradually as a result of chronic exposure
to ototraumatic (damaging to the ear or hearing process) agents. The research by
Vyas (2006) revealed that approximately 33 per cent of males and 23 per cent of
females reported temporary hearing loss caused due to exposure to loud noise of
thresher during threshing activity. Problems created by occupational hearing loss
include - reduced quality of life because of social isolation and unrelenting tinnitus
(ringing in the ears), impaired communication, diminished ability to monitor the
work environment, lost productivity and increased accidents resulting from
impaired communication and isolation.
iv. Lightning : Lightning during rainy day may kill and injure the agricultural
workers if they are out in the fields.
v.

Confined spaces : Confined spaces also present a work hazard to agricultural

workers as these spaces have limited openings for entry and exit and unfavorable
natural ventilation which is not intended for continuous occupancy. These kinds of
spaces can include storage spaces and underground work rooms. Confined spaces
can pose a hazard not just to workers, but also to people who try to rescue them.

vi. Illumination : The workers may be exposed to the risk of poor illumination or
excessive brightness. The acute effects of poor illumination are eye strain,
headache, eye pain, congestion around the cornea and eye fatigue. Exposure to
excessive brightness or glare is associated with discomfort, annoyance and
visual fatigue. Intense direct glare may also result in blurring of vision and lead to
accidents. There should be sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial,
wherever persons are working indoors or at night.
2. Chemical Hazards :
Chemicals are being used in agriculture for high yields of crops. They are used at land
preparation stage, for seed treatment, controlling diseases, removal of weeds and at
the time of storage of grains. Chemicals can enter the body through many routes but
the most common ways are through skin and by inhaling. Exposure to pesticides and
other agrochemicals constitutes one of the principal occupational risks, with
poisoning leading to illness or death and in certain cases work-related cancer.
The magnitude of health damage caused by agrochemical exposure varies according
to the type of crop cultivated, agrochemical used, the mode of application or
exposure, the individual susceptibility and the climatic conditions. Gases used as
pesticides or produced by a reaction when pesticides are applied - including
hydrogen sulphide, phosgene and chlorine - affect directly, through irritation, the
walls of the respiratory tract, bringing asthmatic reactions among people suffering
from bronchial hyperactivity. Some chemicals cause dermatitis, eczema, ulcers and
even cancer by primary irritant action; some cause dermatitis by an allergic action.
Some chemicals, particularly the aromatic nitro and amino compounds such as TNT
and aniline are absorbed through the skin and cause collective effects. Contact
dermatitis is a common occupational dermatological infection in agriculture and is
caused by the action of solvents and other products present in pesticides used on

certain vegetables. Vyas and Singh (2005) found that respiratory problems (80%),
skin problems (73%), eye problems (50%) and giddiness (33%) were hazards
reported by male workers who handled chemicals.
Occupational diseases may also result from ingestion of chemical substances present
in agro-chemicals. Usually these substances are swallowed in little amounts through
contaminated hands while eating food or smoking. Much of the ingested material is
excreted through faeces but a small proportion may reach the general blood
circulation.
3. Mechanical Hazards :
The mechanical hazards in agriculture industry centre round machinery, protruding
and moving parts and the like. There are a host of hazards that makes
agricultural machinery the leading cause of injury and death on farms and
ranches. The main hazards associated with mechanization include moving
machinery parts, sharp edges, high-voltage electrical appliances, hot
surfaces and transport vehicles with the potential to crush, burn, cut, shear,
stab or otherwise strike or wound workers if used unsafely. Occupational
acne is acquired from handling of motor oil and grease or the moving parts
of agricultural machines.
Machinery such as tractors and harvesters has the highest frequency and fatality
rates of injury. Vibrating machinery and air pressure can also cause work-related
illness and injury. Vibration from the machines especially in the frequency range
10 to 500 Hz. may be encountered in work with pneumatic tools such as seeddrills, tractors, harvesters, threshers and hammers. Vibration usually affects the
hands and arms. After some months or years of exposure, the fine blood vessels
of the fingers may become increasingly sensitive to spasm (white fingers).
Exposure to vibration may also produce injuries of the joints, of the hands,
elbows and shoulders. Workers are often not trained to safely use the machinery
and vehicles.
Vyas (2006) reported that use of threshers led to mechanical hazard such as injury
which was reported by approximately 47 per cent of males and 33 per cent of
females. Accidents such as slipping or falling from machines used for agriculture
lead to injury or fracture and was reported by 30 per cent of males and
approximately 17 per cent of females.
4. Electrical Hazards :
Electrical injuries can be divided into four types: fatal electrocution, electric shock,
burns, and falls caused by contact with electric energy. Electrical hazards on the farm
can result in electrical shock to humans or to livestock and possibly result in a fire
within structures or in operating equipment. There is risk of electrocution from
overhead power lines as the lines may have been installed without insulation, or the
insulation may have been removed by exposure to the elements. Farm equipment
such as tractors with front-end loaders, portable grain augers, fold-up cultivators, and
equipment with antennas can come in contact with overhead power lines and cause
an electrical hazard. Performance of certain farm tasks also poses electrocution
hazards. Harvest of tree crops using ladders or construction also bring about hazards.
Risks associated with electrical hazards on the farm are increased by the presence of
moisture, especially by dampness.
5. Biological hazards :
In agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fodder production, workers are at risk from
bacteria, fungi, mites, and viruses transmitted from animals, parasites and ticks
(zoonoses); respiratory problems due to microorganisms and mites in organic dusts

of grain, powder, flour, spices; and specific allergic diseases like farmers lung and
bird breeders lung. Workers in agriculture are at risk of being exposed to sensitisers
(substances producing an allergic reaction). Agricultural workers are thus exposed to
infective and parasitic agents at the place of work.
Biological hazards also include vector-borne diseases, venomous wildlife and insects,
and allergic reactions from certain plants. Vector-borne diseases may be
spread to workers by insects, such as mosquitoes or ticks found on the
animals used for agricultural work. When a mosquito or tick bites the worker,
it may transfer a disease-causing agent, such as a parasite, bacteria or virus.
Fungal or bacterial infections may be directly contracted from infected
animals. Eczema, or allergic dermatitis, can be caused by numerous flowers
produced in ornamental floriculture; by chrome contained in rubber boots or
gloves; by veterinary antibiotics; by pesticides and by disinfectants and
soaps. Skin disorders can result from the entry of pathogenic agents into the
body, either through a lesion (a bite, a scratch, a sting), septic infection or
through a healthy skin surface. Venomous snakes, spiders, scorpions, and
stinging insects such as bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants can be found in
and around the farms.
Respiratory disorders in agriculture cover a wide range of clinical manifestations,
from benign disorders to serious respiratory insufficiency and complications such as
chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, dilation of the bronchi or cardiac
insufficiency. Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS) is a common respiratory illness
manifested in agricultural workers by temporary influenza-like illness with fever,
headache, and muscle aches. "Farmers Lung" is an allergic reaction caused by
inhaling dust from moldy hay, straw and grain. Repeated exposure to harmful dust
and gases can turn portions of the lung into hardened, nonfunctioning tissue and
cause chronic bronchitis and occupational asthma. Asthmatic responses to vegetable
fibers as well as to insects can also lead to occupational asthma. The inhalation of
vegetable dust occurs principally at harvest time. Vyas (2006) in a research found
that suspended particles of grain dust caused respiratory problems such as irritation
in nose, respiratory tract, throat and congestion of chest etc. and were reported by
approximately 67 per cent of males and 57 per cent of female agricultural workers.
The dry hay and grain dust floating in air also caused allergy of skin to many and was
reported by approximately 47 per cent of males and approximately 60 per cent of
females harvesting wheat. It also caused eye problem to approximately 23 per cent
of males and 33 per cent of females.
The various organic allergens can be carriers of bacteria, moulds, toxins and
pesticides and transport them into the respiratory tract, thus creating serious lung
difficulties. Working in closed spaces can expose workers to high concentrations of
allergenic dusts.
6. Ergonomic Hazards :
Ergonomic hazards during agriculture work occur due to exposure to heavy,
repetitive and forceful work, adoption of awkward and uncomfortable postures and
carrying of excessive loads. Many workers have to work for five to six hours by
adopting the same posture. This can develop musculoskeletal disorders which put
stress on muscles and joints, affect the soft tissues of the neck, shoulder, elbow,
hand, wrist, fingers and back. Also the traditional tools and methods used for work
can increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury as these require high human energy.
Furthermore, changes in production processes and the increase in the pace of work
have brought to the fore new occupational pathologies. Maximum of the
respondents in the study by Vyas (2006) reported that due to long continuous
hours of work (78%) repetitive motions (81%) and forceful motions (68%) were the
causes of many occupational health hazards while performing agricultural work

such as land preparation and sowing while during weeding 93 per cent of the
respondents reported that bending posture during work was the cause of hazards
which led to fatigue and body pain.
Although chronic musculoskeletal disorders develop cumulatively over a period of
time, most of them can lead to permanent disability. There is a direct effect on the
body mass index of the worker due to these ergonomic hazards. Musculoskeletal
disorders are avoided by the employment of good ergonomic design and the
reduction of repeated strenuous movements or lifts. Vyas (2012) indicated that 100
per cent of male and female respondents had musculoskeletal problems of neck,
shoulder, upper arm and palm/fingers while performing the activities of land
preparation, sowing and harvesting whereas during plant protection 100 per cent of
males and during weeding 100 per cent of females reported pain in these body parts.
In all the activities except plant protection 100 per cent of the male and female
respondents reported pain in lower back. The severity of pain in different body parts
was measured on a 5- point continuum (very severe to very mild) and the data
revealed that it varied from very severe to moderate for approximately 70 per cent of
the respondents.
7. Psychosocial Hazards :
Psychosocial factors related to agriculture include stress, economic considerations,
poor access to health care, and injuries to minors who begin working at a young age.
The psychosocial hazards arise from the workers failure to adapt to an alien
psychosocial environment. Frustrations, lack of job satisfaction, insecurity, poor
human relationships, work-related stress and emotional tension are some of the
psychosocial factors which may discourage both physical and mental health of
agricultural workers. Tension/stress of timely completing the agricultural activities
was one of the cause of hazard reported by 58 per cent of the respondents in a study
on agricultural workers (Vyas, 2006).
The capacity to adapt to working environments is influenced by many factors such as
education, cultural background, family life, social habits and what the worker expects
from his occupation. The health effects can be classified as Psychological and
behavioural changes including hostility, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression,
tardiness, alcoholism, drug abuse, sickness absenteeism and Psychosomatic ill-health
including fatigue, headache; pain in the shoulders, neck and back; propensity to
peptic ulcer, hypertension, heart disease and rapid aging. The increasing stress on
automation, electronic operations and technologies may introduce newer
psychosocial health problems among agricultural workers.
REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR HAZARD PREVENTION
Agriculture workers are prone to various hazards which need prevention and control
as it hampers the health of the workers. Singh and Vyas (2007) found that both male
and female agriculture workers had high incidence of hazard i.e. approximately 58
per cent and 73 per cent respectively whereas 25 per cent of males and 20 per cent
of females were moderately prone and approximately 5-7 per cent were having
severe incidence of hazards. This gives an indication that the working conditions of
the agricultural workers is alarming and calls for immediate action of planners, policy
makers, designers, ergonomists, extension workers and researches for prevention
and remedial measures.
Effective management actively establishes procedures for timely identification,
correction or control of hazards. The work place must be inspected and work
practices must be assessed regularly for all potential hazards. Hazard prevention and
control program should be designed to meet the specific requirements of each
activity. It usually consists of implementing a hierarchy of controls. These controls

provide a systematic way to determine the most effective and feasible method to
reduce the risk associated with a hazard.

Elimination : This is the first step in control of hazards. It involves elimination

of the hazard itself so that there is no risk of injury. If the hazard cannot be
eliminated, substitute it with less hazardous or with safer material, process,
operation or equipment.

Engineering controls : Engineering controls are design changes that directly

eliminate a hazard or limit the severity of hazard. The work environment and the
work itself should be designed to eliminate or reduce exposure to the hazards. If
removal of hazard is not feasible, enclose the hazard to prevent exposure in
normal operations for e.g. reduce the risk by designing safeguards for farm
equipment with moving parts and wherever complete enclosure is not feasible,
establish barriers to reduce exposure to the hazard. Workstations should be
designed to minimize awkward postures and undue force of the muscles.

Administrative controls : This include training, job planning, rotation and

scheduling, changes to work procedure, work area protection, reduction in
exposure time to hazard and similar measures. These controls significantly limit
daily exposure to hazard by controlling or manipulating the work schedule or the
manner in which the work is done. These types of controls are normally used
together with other controls that more directly prevent or control exposure to the
hazard. Safety and health rules is also a type of administrative control that
includes written workplace rules, safe and healthful work practices, and
procedures for specific operations. Work practice controls modify the manner in
which an employee does his or her work. Modifications may reduce exposure
through methods such as changing work habits, improving sanitation and hygiene
practices, or making other changes in the way an employee does a job.

Personal protective equipment : When its not possible to reduce hazard

or risk in any other way Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used as a
last alternative or it can be used in addition with other control. The use of PPE is
an admission that the hazard still remains and that the risk cannot be reduced at
its source. Personal protective equipment (PPE) in agriculture includes - coveralls;
eye protection; footwear; gloves; hearing protection; respiratory protective
equipment (RPE); safety helmets and wet weather clothing. To use the PPE
effectively, workers need suitable information, instruction and training.

CONCLUSION :
Agriculture sector is one of the largest occupation employing maximum of work force
in India. The agricultural workers are subjected to many health hazards that are
potentially harmful to their health and well-being. Working conditions in agriculture
can be significantly improved in a viable and cost-effective way through safety and
health measures. By having a good hazard prevention program, one can avoid not
only farm injuries, but also unplanned accidents that are costly, time consuming,
stressful and inconvenient. Special trainings may be provided so that workers are
made aware of the methods of controlling and prevention of hazards.

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