SAFETY APPAREL IN AGRICULTURE 1 Produced by Idaho State University Office of Workforce Training

“This material was produced under grant SH22228SH1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.” 2

OSHA and Agriculture Not all farms fall under OSHA jurisdiction Who is exempt: Farms that only employ immediate family members or farms with 10 employees or less (this exemption, however, does not apply if the operation has maintained a temporary labor camp within the last twelve months, OSHA directive CPL ) Additional state guidelines may apply

OSHA and Agriculture OSHA requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels. Employers are required to determine if PPE should be used to protect their workers. Source:

Safety Apparel in Agriculture Because OSHA stands for safety and health, keep that standard in mind when selecting wearing apparel in agriculture. When selecting clothing remember dark colors absorb heat while light colors reflect heat.

Footwear: Medium to high top work boot or cowboy boot. Made of leather to include a steel toe. Provides protection from falling objects. Provides protection if stepped on by livestock. Provides high ankle support. Provides protection from snakebites, wasp, hornet, and bee stings. Heavy sole provides protection from injury due to stepping on thorns, nails, or rocks. Provides protection from welder or grinder debris. Price range $100 to $350. 6

Socks: Socks should be of the length to fully accommodate the size of the footwear. Recommended socks would be of cotton material so as to lessen the retention of foot moisture. Cotton socks tend not to have a tight restrictive band; whereas polyester socks commonly do. Tight restrictive bands on socks cut necessary circulation to the feet and toes. Price usually in the $6 range. 7

Pants: Denim material. A relatively tough but flexible fabric. Cotton material. A flexible but breathable material. As polyester is highly flammable, it would be best to avoid this fabric. Pants should be full length so as to provide protection from scrapes, nicks, insect bites, sun exposure, welder or grinder debris. Price range from $15 to $65. 8

Shirts: Denim shirts provide a rugged but flexible fabric. Cotton shirts provide a flexible but breathable fabric. Polyester shirts should be avoided as polyester is a highly flammable material. Flannel shirts provide warmth. Shirts should be long sleeved to provide protection from sun exposure, insect bites, scrapes and bruises. Shirts should fit comfortably but not be baggy. Price range $25 to $65. 9

Neckerchief: Provides skin protection during intense sun exposure. Can be used as a dust mask. Can be used as a cloth to be soaked in water to cool the brow or neck of heat exhaustion or heatstroke victims. Can be used as an emergency glove. Price range $2. 10

Hats: Straw hats provide good sun protection and reduce heat. Normal price range $30 to $70. Felt hats provide good sun protection but normally retain heat. Normal price range $65 to $225. Baseball style caps do not provide good sun protection. Normal price range $7. Metal or fiberglass hard hats provide protection from head injuries but may not provide good sun protection. They may be required in certain situations. Normal price range $16. 11

Gloves: Gloves provide protection from blisters, splinters, insect bites, scrapes and bruises. Leather gloves provide the best protection for standard uses. Price range for leather gloves is $12 to $30. Price for welding gloves ranges $10 & above. 12

Additional Clothing: To protect against hypothermia or frostbite, additional clothing might be necessary. It is normally easy to remove light layers of clothing. Denim coveralls approximately $45. Cotton coveralls approximately $35. Cotton shop coat $35. Insulated coveralls $80. Hooded sweatshirt $30 to $50. Fleece vest $17. Light jacket $25. Rain gear $10 to $100. Cowboy Duster $

Apparel Accessories: Ear plugs $2. Noise restriction ear muffs $18. Safety glasses range $4 to $10. Dust mask $3. Toxic respirator mask $30 to $40. Chemical application suit and boots $150. Knee pads $15. 14

Think About It! The entire investment package discussed in this module is slightly over $500. Isn’t a toe, finger, hand, your eyesight, your hearing, your lungs, or perhaps even your life worth the investment? It truly is about your life, your safety and your health! 15

Evaluation 16 Produced by Idaho State University Office of Workforce Training