Disaster Preparedness

Access education resources on farm safety and disaster preparedness, including fire safety, biosecurity best practices, and pesticide safety. Get tips on emergency response training and a workbook on dealing with farm disasters and catastrophic events.

Farm Employee Emergency and Safety

Preventing workplace injuries should be a top priority for everyone on the farm. A well thought out health and safety management plan can reduce worker injuries, fatalities, and illnesses. It is also important to make sure all farmworkers are properly trained and aware of the farm’s safety and emergency response procedures.

Many farm employee accidents involve machinery. In fact, the highest cause of farm fatalities in Pennsylvania is caused by tractor rollovers. Maintaining equipment, learning how to manage machinery emergencies, and wearing protective gear such as seat belts is essential to prevent such events.

Further, be aware that hydrogen sulfide, methane gas, and carbon dioxide in poorly ventilated grain silos can be dangerous. If proper emergency preparedness training is not put into place, silo gases can pose dangers to workers' health, including chemical pneumonia and suffocation.

Penn State Extension’s resources are available on investing in agricultural safety and sustainability, planning safety and health management programs, and handling chemical spills to avoid pesticide poisoning. In this section, find tips for farmers and farmworkers on preventing heat-related illnesses, as well.

Farm Biosecurity Best Practices

A biosecurity plan, as part of agriculture, can prevent infectious organisms from entering the farm. Its development should involve all farmworkers and should be utilized by everyone on the farm.

For livestock enterprises, the more important aspects of the biosecurity plan are screening and isolating new animals, incorporating a nutritional program to promote good overall health, disinfecting equipment, and removing persistently infected animals. Best management practices for field biosecurity include locking buildings when not in use, limiting access to certain areas, and performing field operations in “clean” fields before moving to ones with known pest issues.

On this page, learn more about reducing the risks of farm diseases. Find resources on biosecurity risk assessment for salmonella and Johne's Disease in dairy herds. An online course is available on understanding farm biosecurity best practices for visitors, including vendors and contractors.

Natural Disaster Preparedness

Taking precautions prior to a natural disaster is imperative for enhancing emergency response and recovery. Should a natural disaster strike, having an emergency plan is key to overcoming adversity at home and on the farm.

Disasters such as floods, fires, and storm damage may occur naturally and can happen anywhere. If you have recently experienced flooding in the barnyard, it is sensible to start making changes to prevent floods in the future.

Responding to natural disasters requires specialized knowledge and skills. Discover how to safely respond to and manage agricultural emergencies with Penn State Extension. Learn more about farm disaster preparedness with the ReadyAG Workbook tool.

Fire Safety on Farms

Farm fire safety is a year-round risk management activity. All farmers should ensure that everyone directly involved with the farm is familiar with the necessary course of action in the event of fire.

If storing crops in silos, ensure the material is not drier than it should be as this can lead to excessive heating followed by a spontaneous combustion fire. Managing silo fires include locating the fire area and controlling it without affecting the rest of the material. See also silo fire decision trees and recommendations.

Adequate emergency training is required of anyone involved with moving and extricating animals from barn fire environments. If you own stables, note that fire damage to horse stables can often be prevented or minimized through sound building techniques, fire detection, and management practices.