Information regarding the 2008 Agriculture Safety and Health Forum

Never before in history has agriculture been capable of providing so much food to so many people with so few workers. And because of such factors as safer equipment, improved production practices, and the initiatives of farm families and other concerned citizens, Hoosier farms have become much safer places to work and raise families. So why do we need an organization like the Indiana Rural Safety and Health Council? Even with all the improvements, farming remains one of the most hazardous occupations in the state. Each year, an estimated 1 out of every 9 Indiana farm families experiences an injury requiring medical attention, and between 20 and 25 members of farm families die as the result of farm work-related injuries. It was to promote safer and healthier living for Indiana’s farm and rural families that the Council was established over 55 years ago as a volunteer, nonprofit organization.

Since its establishment, the Council has been especially concerned with children, agriculture’s most important resource. Because children live, play, and work on farms, they are exposed to unique hazards not faced by their urban peers. Therefore, both they and their parents need safety education resources designed specifically for farm settings. The Council has been a primary source of this material for several decades. Working with groups such as 4-H, FFA, Farm Bureau, and Purdue’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program, the Council has had a significant impact on reducing the number of childhood agricultural injuries in Indiana.

Over the past five decades, the Council has initiated a wide range of activities designed to raise public awareness of hazards and provide safety training. The Council also encourages and enhances community involvement in efforts to reduce injuries and occupational illness on farms and in rural communities.