Seasonal Worker Safety
by Kirk Lloyd, Risk Management Services, Inc.

Many of us in agri-business are hiring seasonal workers at this time of year, so we want to remind everyone that these newly employed workers are injured at a higher rate than long term employees. A surprising number of injuries occur during the first week, and sometimes even on the first day, of a new job. Among the many techniques that an employer can use to reduce this exposure are 1.) Good Hiring Practices, 2.) New Employee Orientation / Training, and 3.) Skillful Supervision.

With current tight labor supplies in the Northwest, good hiring practices can be difficult to follow. However, experience has shown that safety begins at hiring. As a bare minimum screening procedure, we encourage employers to require a written job application with prior employment information. Reference checking, formal skills evaluations, and substance abuse screening policies are among the additional steps that can reduce the chance of a hiring mistake. Whatever steps you chose, be consistent and non-discriminatory.

Orientation and training are vital steps. Oregon OSHA requires all ag employers, even on very small operations, to provide a safety orientation for seasonal workers. Among other things, seasonal workers must receive OSHA Publication 1951, the booklet entitled “Safe Practices When Working Around Hazardous Agricultural Chemicals”. Employers must communicate their safety and health rules for the work to be done, outline the procedures to contact supervisors and obtain assistance if an employee becomes sick or hurt, and point out the location of the posted safety and health information. Depending on the work, employees may need more specific training. Tractor operator classes, forklift training, and instruction on the Worker Protection Standard for pesticides are just a few examples. And remember, it isn’t effective to tell employees to “Be Careful” or to “Work Safely”. Your new employees need to really understand what steps to follow in order to avoid an injury on the job.

New employee training will never be 100% effective so supervision plays an important role. A good supervisor will function much like the coach of an athletic team. Observation of work practices must be made so that employees are held accountable for their actions. The desired procedures must be taught and encouraged, and the undesirable ones corrected. Sometimes our supervisors need some training too, to develop these leadership skills. Setting clear expectations and having a discipline policy to deal with problem situations will make the supervisory practices much more effective.

The risk of injury is NOT a matter of random chance. There is much we can do to shift the odds in a positive direction. Investing in the safety of our seasonal workers can minimize injuries, save on future insurance costs, and improve the quality of life for everyone involved. We are all in this together, so please make that investment!