Avoiding Sharp Injuries and Accidents in Agriculture

1. OSHA's definitions of "sharps" are objects that can penetrate a worker's skin. In the agriculture industry, that definition describes several tools, equipment, and objects that agriculture workers encounter during their day to day tasks.

2. Cuts, lacerations and punctures are the obvious results of sharp injuries, but the potential infection from contaminated, unsanitary and/or biological exposures that were on the sharp as it passed into your skin is also a major concern.

3. Our hands are valuable tools and unfortunately they are also vulnerable for sharp injuries. It is important to protect your hands by wearing gloves when handling rough materials or performing operations that carry a risk of sharp exposure.

4. Even though wearing appropriate gloves and other PPE reduces the risk of sharp injury, your first line of defense should be cautious of job tasks that may require handling of sharp objects, such as pruning, picking up broken glass, or working around sharp metals.

5. Hand placement and body positioning is important when working with or near sharp exposures.

6. When operating machinery, always ensure that there are functional machine guards in place to protect yourself.

7. Always lockout and tagout machinery when it is defective, requires maintenance, or otherwise not in use.

8. Determine that the PPE you are using, such as gloves, aprons or safety glasses/goggles, are the right choice and provide the best protection from the sharp hazard that you are exposed too.

9. If a sharp injury does occur, follow your company's first aid and medical response procedures. The cause of the injury must be investigated and the hazard be resolved.

10. In what way will you be using tools or equipment that may cause sharp injuries?

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