OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN AGRICULTURE: CHALLENGES, REGULATIONS AND MODERN TRENDS

Occupational safety and health represent an essential part of every production process and a major challenge for both employers and employees. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy but also a high-risk sector with numerous occupational illnesses, workplace injuries, and even fatal accidents. Employees in this sector are exposed to various risks: mechanical injuries, improper handling of work equipment, unfavorable microclimatic conditions, chemical risks due to the use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, as well as physical, biological and ergonomic burdens. In accordance with the Law on Occupational Safety and Health and other by-laws, as well as international regulations, employers in the Republic of Serbia are obliged to conduct risk assessments and implement measures that can reduce the likelihood of workplace injuries or occupational diseases. Protecting employees in agriculture is essential for promoting human rights, strengthening public health resilience, and achieving sustainable development goals related to health, labor, and food safety. Adequate protection and proper training of employees increase productivity, while costs arising from workplace injuries — such as production interruptions and sick leave — are significantly reduced. For employers, the occupational safety and health system is not only a legal requirement but also an investment in a more eficient, safer, and more stable work process. In agriculture, where risks are higher than in many other sectors, these issues are of special importance and require a systematic approach, continuous monitoring, and worker education. The aim of this paper is to examine the main obstacles to the implementation of occupational safety and health rules in agriculture, identify the most frequent causes of injuries, and determine how often protective measures and technical solutions are used. A special focus is placed on problems specific to agriculture in Serbia, including the predominance of small family farms, the high share of self-employed and seasonal workers, informal (“off-the-books”) work, insuficient training of machinery operators, and limited financial resources for modern technology.

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI: 

Occupational safety and health, agriculture, workplace injuries, risks, preventive measures

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

Research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, grant no. 451-03-136/2025-03/200009 from 4^th February 2025.

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