Occupational Safety and Health in

Agriculture- The BOHS Approach

Prepared in Public Interest

By
Indian Association of
Occupational Health
April, 2013

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DEFINATION OF AGRICULTURE

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INTRODUCTION
An estimated 1.3 billion workers are engaged in
agricultural production worldwide. This represents
half of the total world labour force.
Almost 60% of them are in developing countries.
A great majority of agricultural workers are found
in Asia, which is the most densely populated
region of the world, with more than 40% of the
world's agricultural population concentrated in
China and more than 20% in India.

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SPECIFIC FEATURES OF
AGRICULTURE
most tasks are carried out in the open air,
exposing workers to climatic conditions;
the seasonal nature of the work and the
urgency of certain tasks in specific periods;
a wide variety of tasks are performed by the
same person;
the type of working postures and the length
of the tasks performed;

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SPECIFIC FEATURES OF AGRICULTURAL

WORK
contact with animals and plants exposing
workers to bites, poisoning, infections, parasitic
diseases, allergies, toxicity and other health
problems;
the use of chemicals and biological products ;
the considerable distances between living
quarters and workplaces.

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LABOUR FORCE IN AGRICULTURE

Lack of clear-cut distinctions between
different categories of workers.
Numerous types of labour relations and
different forms of labour force
participation.

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PRINCIPLES OF BOHS
The following principles will be applied in the
organization of Basic Occupational Health Services:
Available to all working people
Addressing to local needs
Adapted to local conditions
Affordable to providers and clients
Organized by the employer for employees
Provided by the public sector for the selfemployed and the informal sector
Supported by intermediate level services

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BOHS MODEL

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ORIENTATION AND PLANNING

1. Analysis of the type of production indicating the risks
and problems typical of the branch or occupation in
concern.

Agriculture involves a wide range of different types of

machinery, animals, plants and products, working in
both indoor and outdoor environments

In India labour-intensive farming is much more common.

2. Review of problems that have been identified previously

in the company
3. Review of the characteristics of the workforce of the
company

child labour , migrant workers , seasonal, migratory and

casual labour.

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ORIENTATION AND PLANNING

4. Available data on occupational diseases and
accidents
5. Data on working methods, chemical substances,
etc.
6. The knowledge by employers and employees of
occupational health problems
7. Plans for changes in production systems, e.g.
installation of new facilities, machinery and
equipment

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1.

SURVEILLANCE OF THE WORK

ENVIRONMENT
Identification and evaluation of ergonomic factors which may
affect the workers' health

Ergonomic factors affecting the health outcomes of agricultural

workers include:

the nature of the physical work environment (noise, heat,

lighting, thermal comfort), the agricultural tasks to be
performed;

the technology applied to the prescribed tasks (including

workplace design, facility design, and agricultural material
handling);

the manner in which tasks are organized (including use of

shift work); and

Worker characteristics (including demographics, physiology,

human error, and identification and treatment of injured
workers).

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SURVEILLANCE OF THE WORK

ENVIRONMENT
2. Assessment of conditions of occupational hygiene and
factors,
such as physical, chemical, and biological exposures which may
generate risks to the health of workers
2. Assessment, where appropriate, of exposure of workers to
adverse psychological factors and aspects of work
organization
3. Assessment of risk of occupational accidents and major
hazards
4. Assessment of collective and personal protective equipment
5. Assessment of control systems designed to eliminate, prevent
or reduce exposure
6. Assessment of general hygiene and sanitary facilities

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Occupational Health Problems in

Agriculture

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Occupational Health Problems in

Agriculture

14

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SURVEILLANCE OF WORKERS' HEALTH

The following types of health examinations are carried
out either on the basis of regulations or as a part of good
occupational health practice:
1. Pre-assignment (pre-employment) health examinations
2. Periodic health examinations
3. Return to work health examinations
4. General health examinations
5. Health examinations at termination or after ending of
service
A new type of health examination has recently been
introduced for assessment of work ability of ageing
workers.

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SURVEILLANCE OF WORKERS' HEALTH

In the case of exposure of workers to specific hazards,
medical and health surveillance should include, where
appropriate, any examination and investigations which
may be necessary to detect exposure levels and early
effects and responses which also bear in mind the
biological difference between women and men.
Example, in pesticide handlers.
Pre-employment screening should ensure that those with
inherently low-level cholinesterase do not undertake
work with organophosphate or carbamate pesticides
baseline samples, periodic samples,

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ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY

RISKS

18

A hazard is anything with the potential to do harm,

whereas a risk is the likelihood of potential harm from

that hazard being realised.
The identification of hazards in the workplace should
take into account:
(a) the situation or events or combination of
circumstances that have the potential to give rise to
injury or illness;
(b) the nature of potential injury or illness relevant to
the activity, product or service;
(c) those likely to be harmed (e.g. young workers, older
workers, temporary workers, pregnant workers); and
(d) past injuries, incidents and illness.

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ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS

The steps in an occupational health risk assessment
include:
1.Identification of occupational health hazards (as a
Hazards
Description
result
of surveillances)
Mechanical
hazard

Psycho social
hazards
Work
organisation
hazards
Ergonomic
hazards

Poorly
designed
and/or
guarded
agricultural
machinery is a major cause of fatalities and
accidents. Injuries from cutting tools are another
major risk.
low pay, sexual and other harassment, job insecurity,
poor promotion mechanisms, delay in payment of
salaries.
badly organised shift work and working hours,
excessive overtime, lone working, lack of control over
work.
These hazards can cause permanent injuries and
disablement.
For
example:
badly
designed
machinery, prolonged static working positions,
repetitive work, unsuitable tools used by workers,
poor seating

Others - Physical hazards , Biological hazards, chemical hazards,

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ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS

2. Identification of workers or groups of workers
exposed to specific hazards for e.g. in tea
plantation workers the hazards are different for
pruners, pluckers, sprayers
3. Analysis of how the hazard may affect the worker
(ways of entry and type of exposure, threshold
limit values, dosage/ response relationships,
adverse health effects it may cause, etc.in case of
sprayers who are in constant contact with the
pesticides)
4. Determination of intensity (level) and magnitude
(volume) of risk

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ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS

5. Identification of individuals and groups with
special vulnerabilities, e.g. young workers, old
workers, pregnant workers, temporary workers
6. Evaluation of available hazard prevention and
control measures
7. Making conclusions and recommendations for the
management and control of risks

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ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY

RISKS

Hierarchy of control measures for reducing risks in the

work place.
A.Elimination
B.Substitution
C.Others
technical and engineering control- enclosure,
isolation, ventilation
Safe systems of work- changing work schedules,
extending rest periods, training and information
Issuing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
8. Documenting the findings of the assessment

9. Periodic review and, if necessary, reassessment of risks

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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON RISKS

AND ADVICE ON THE NEED FOR PREVENTIVE
AND CONTROL ACTIONS
The information

and education

include the following

aspects:
1.Workers in agriculture should have the right to be
informed and consulted on OSH matters including risks
from new technologies; and
2.The workers have a right to know and get continuously
information on hazards related to their own work and the
workplace.
3.The employer is responsible for training the workers on
safe and healthy work

practices.

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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON RISKS

AND ADVICE ON THE NEED FOR PREVENTIVE
AND CONTROL ACTIONS
4. The workers have a duty to follow the safety
instructions and safe and healthy work practices.
5. Confidential health information of an individual
worker is subject to special legislation and
practices and to informed consent.
6. The advice provided by OHS personnel must be
given in a form which is easily understood by
employers and workers.
7. Information given to various partners should be
documented.

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PREVENTIVE ACTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT

AND CONTROL OF HEALTH AND SAFETY
HAZARDS AND RISKS
Control measures should be monitored and
reviewed at regular intervals and if necessary
revised, especially when circumstances change or
if new information becomes available about the
risks posed or the suitability of existing control
measures.
Control measures should also be reviewed and if
necessary revised following an accident.

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PREVENTIVE ACTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT

AND CONTROL OF HEALTH AND SAFETY
HAZARDS AND RISKS
The risk management actions may comprise:
Control of hazards at the source
Ventilation or control technology
Dust control
Ergonomic measures
Use of personal protective equipment
Regulation of thermal conditions, etc.

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PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
1. Safe planning of facilities, machinery, etc.
The employer should not permit the use of any
unsafe or faulty equipment.
The employer should ensure the provision of
adequate information, instruction and training
for those using equipment, and that their skill
levels are periodically evaluated.
2. Good housekeeping, order and cleanliness
The employer should ensure that workers are
clearly instructed and supervised in good
housekeeping measures that can prevent slips,
trips and falls.

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PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
3. Making walkways and other structures safe (e.g.
scaffolds, fences)
The employer shall ensure that: walking surfaces
and stairs inside facilities are equipped with
adequate lighting; stairs and ladders are
maintained in good condition with handrails in
place; .
4. Guarding dangerous machines- by providing
enclosures, safety symbols

surrounding such places.

Unauthorized persons should not be allowed to

operate machinery. In particular, children should be
kept away from all agricultural equipment.

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PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
5. Technical aids for moving and lifting heavy loads
With regard to the use and maintenance of ladders,
the employer should ensure that appropriate, wellmaintained equipment is available and is
appropriate to the task at hand. the use of
mechanical means to lift or lower heavy objects;
and other practices appropriate to the task at hand.
6. Safe tools and safety equipment for workers
Workers should use handholds when mounting and
dismounting equipment.
7. Analysis of major hazard risks and provision of
"redundant safety"

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MAINTAINING PREPAREDNESS TO FIRST AID AND

PARTICIPATION IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

1. Providing first aid services at the workplace when

appropriate
2. Introducing and training first aid practices to workers and
supervisors
3. Maintaining and periodically inspecting the first aid
readiness and facilities
4. Participating from the health point of view in emergency
planning and organizing the health elements in emergency
response

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MAINTAINING PREPAREDNESS TO FIRST AID AND

PARTICIPATION IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Emergency preparedness
Date______________
Checklist

Self-audit
Step2

Step 1
Planning

Step 3
N/A

Yes

No

Priority
for action

What action
is required

1. Does the workplace have an emergency response plan?

2. Does the workplace have established emergency escape
routes and procedures?
3. Does the workplace have a trained first-aider(s)?
4. Does the workplace have basic rescue equipment and are
workers trained to use it?

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DIAGNOSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL AND WORKRELATED DISEASES

1. Identification of exposure which may cause the disease
2. Examination of clinical findings which are known to be
associated with the specific exposure (lists of occupational
diseases)
3. Exclusion of non-occupational factors as a possible cause of
disease
4. Conclusion on existence or non-existence of occupational
disease (diagnosis)
5.

Statement

on

occupational

disease

for

workmen's

compensation
6. Proposals for preventive actions to the workplace of the
worker in concern
7. Notification of occupational diseases to authorities

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GENERAL HEALTH CARE, CURATIVE AND

REHABILITATION SERVICES
1. Immunizations and other preventive measures
2. Participation in public health actions and programmes
3. GP-level general health services
4. Inspection and advice on canteens, sanitary facilities
5.

Advice

and

education

in

general

personal

and

community hygiene
6. Actions for rehabilitation and adjustment of work for
workers after injuries, diseases, reduced work ability
and on return to work from long sick leaves
7. General health promotion and introduction of healthy
lifestyles

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RECORD KEEPING
1. General health record, if the workers are treated
as patients or health service clients
2.

Data

on

surveyed,

detected

and

measured

occupational exposures and risk assessments made

3. Statistics on occupational diseases and injuries
4. Data on health examinations
5. Documents on
control measures

proposals for preventive

and

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EVALUATION

1. Evaluation is carried out as an inbuilt part of BOHS

activity, at least annually
2. Evaluation is made when the working methods,
production structures or other aspects at work are
substantially changed
3. Evaluation is made if the methods or conditions of
operation of services are substantially changed

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EVALUATION

4. The following questions are answered through

evaluation:
a) Do the services respond to the needs of the workplace?
b) Are the activities directed to priority problems?
c) Is good occupational health practice followed?
d) Are the resources, human and technical, sufficient?
e) Are the services effective in elimination of health problems?
f) What can be improved?

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ROVISION OF BOHS
Primary health services model
Big company model with in-company services
Group services organized jointly, e.g. by several
SMEs
Social security institution as a service provider
Private physician who has special competence in
occupational health
Private health centre either providing occupational
health services only or occupational health as a
part of its services
Local or regional outpatient clinic of hospitals

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AIMING FOR
THIS
CHANGE

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REFERENCES
BOHS. a response to the Joint ILO/WHO Committee on
Occupational Health priority area for ILO/WHO/ICOH
collaboration, with support of the Finnish Institute of
Occupational Health (FIOH). Author: Professor Jorma Rantanen.
3rd, revised edition, Helsinki 28 September 2007
Safety and health in agriculture. Programme on safety, health
and the environment. Labour Protection Department. ILO.
Code of practice on safety and health in agriculture .2010.
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE GENEVA.
Top on the agenda: Health and safety in agriculture. Labour
Education 2000/ 1-2 Nos. 118/119. ILO
Health, Safety and Environment: A Series of Trade Union
Education Manuals for Agricultural Workers Written by: Peter
Hurst & Peter Kirby. ILO.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Shwetha Marali, Senior Resident, Department of

Community Health, St. Johns Medical College
Dr. Bobby Joseph, Professor and Head, Division of
Occupational Health Services of the same Department..