This article summarizes the Emerging Technology in Agriculture: Keeping Health and Safety at the Forefront workshop, which was hosted by the UC Davis Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCHAS) on Thursday, May 11, 2023. WCAHS organized the workshop in response to the increased interest in agricultural technology and the need to ensure the safety of farmworkers coming in contact with technologies that may pose new hazards.
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)—off-road, motorized vehicles with three or four tires—are commonly used by farmers and ranchers to apply fertilizers, inspect livestock or crops, and carry or tow implements. There are approximately 11 million ATVs in the US, with 21% of those being used in agriculture.
The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety offers annual funding opportunities for outreach and education activities and short-term research to support projects related to agricultural health and safety in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
All-terrain vehicles (ATV) are widely used in agricultural work to apply fertilizers and chemicals, inspect livestock and crops, supervise and transport workers, and carry and tow equipment. Unfortunately, they also account for a significant percentage of work-related accidents.
Agricultural workers all over the world rely on ATVs to complete tasks on the farm; however, despite the usefulness of ATVs, serious injuries can result from improper use.
