ST. CLOUD - Farming and crop manufacturing jobs are some of the highest risk jobs for work place injuries in Minnesota.

Nearly a third of all workplace deaths in Minnesota happen in those professions.

Paul Aasen is with the Minnesota Safety Council. He says there are multiple reasons why farmers are more likely to be injured on the job.

"It is a tricky environment, you are working out the elements with big farm equipment. Farmers also spend time on rural roads and crashes on rural roads can be really dangerous."

 

Though workplace injuries have fallen 27 percent since 2006, Aasen says the safety council continues to try to help make work environments, including farms, safer.

"[We] are working with the department of agriculture, University of Minnesota, farmers bureau, farmers union and a wide range of folks who have been coordinating for two years now. We have been collecting all the sources of information on farm safety and compiling them in one area so farmers can get to it easier."

 

While workers in the agricultural industry are the most at risk for injury, it doesn't mean other employees in different lines of work aren't also at risk. Aasen says regardless of where you work he has some tips on how to stay safe.

"Number one, the biggest risk to everyone, every day is driving. Just slow down when you're driving and take a little extra time. That little bit of extra time makes it a lot less risky for you."

 

Workers in Minnesota are well below the national average for workplace injuries with an average of 2.7 injuries per 100,000 workers, compared to the national average of 3.4.

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