From 2015 to 2019, 137 farm-related fatalities were reported in Pennsylvania alone. In 2020, 39 farm and agricultural fatalities were reported, an increase in fatalities compared to previous one-year summaries. Ten of the cases (25.6%) belong to youth and children 19 years and younger. This is slightly higher than the 2015 to 2019 average of 21.5% of victims being 19 or younger. As is typically the case, the majority of victims were male. A complete list of reported incidents and breakdowns can be found in the Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary located at https://extension.psu.edu/2020-pennsylvania-farm-fatal-injury-summary.

When it comes to machinery on farms, staying vigilant and familiar with the equipment being used is essential. All members of the family should be trained in equipment safety, PTO safety, starting and stopping machinery, and how to stay out of blind spots. When small children are on the farm, learning equipment safety could mean life or death. Of the 137 PA fatalities between 2015 to 2019, in those 5 years old and under 92% were results from exposure to farm equipment, tools, and hazards while not engaged in farm work. Vehicles were again a leading source of fatalities in 2020, accounting for 14 of the 39 fatalities. Only three of the vehicle fatalities occurred with highway vehicles, with tractors and ATV’s being especially hazardous.

Manure pits on farms are one of the most dangerous areas where extreme caution should be taken. Not only do they present drowning and entrapment situations, but the gasses at high enough levels can be dangerous to animals and humans. Gasses produced from decomposing manure include hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen sulfide is the most dangerous out of these gasses and can result in death after just one or two breaths at high levels. This gas can be detected by a distinctive rotten egg odor at very low levels. However, when manure in pits is agitated or being pumped, hydrogen sulfide can increase to dangerous levels where nerve cells inside the nose become paralyzed and those odors cannot be detected. In addition to following safety protocols around manure collection systems, there are gas detection meters that are available for use for those working around manure pits to help detect these dangerous gases. Gasses from fermenting feeds in upright silos are also very dangerous and anyone working around these structures must be very cautious to the hazards associated with them. Individuals can become unresponsive in a matter of seconds while working around both manure pits and upright silos, so extreme caution must be practiced, and farmers should never enter these structures without personal protective equipment and should always inform others of their whereabouts.