FED OSHA Issues Ag Safety Fact Sheets

The federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the national counterpart to California's Cal/OSHA, has issued three new fact sheets on ag safety:

• All-Terrain Vehicle Hazards during Farm Work;
• Preventing Farm Vehicle Backover Incidents; and,
• Protecting Workers from Tractor Hazards.

The issuance of these fact sheets does not create any new compliance obligations for California agricultural employers.  A positive effect of their issuance may be allowing farm employers to learn more about best practices for use of vehicles; vehicle accidents are among the most common types of accidents in agricultural employment.  A possible negative effect of the issuance of these fact sheets is that their existence may bolster an OSHA General Duty Clause violation (the federal OSH Act imposes a general obligation on employers to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards) or Cal/OSHA Injury & Illness Program violation citation for failing to identify and abate a hazard.