About the Certified Safe Farm Program

The Certified Safe Farm (CSF) program began in 1998 at the University of Iowa’s Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) as a research program in collaboration with the AgriSafe Network. The aim of the program is to reduce the number of injuries and illnesses in the program’s population by providing an occupational health screening, on-farm safety review with standards, personalized education, and incentives such as cash, insurance discounts, or agribusiness discounts. Since 1998, the program has evolved into several specialized studies such as the Dairy Farmer Study, the Elderly Farmer Study, and the Evaluating Health Insurance Claims Study.

The occupational health screening is provided by trained agricultural nurses at a participating AgriSafe Clinic. Prior to their screening, clients are asked to complete a thorough occupational history form that asks about the type of agricultural operation and the related exposures, client’s past health conditions, and clients personal protective (PPE) use. The clinic visit includes health and wellness tests such as pulmonary function tests, hearing tests, skin cancer screenings, cholesterol tests, BMI, among others. The results of each test are explained to the client in relationship to their occupation based information collected from talking to the farmer and their occupational history form. (more information)

The on-farm safety review is provided by farm safety reviewers trained by University of Iowa safety specialists. The on-farm safety review uses a comprehensive checklist developed by the University of Iowa. This checklist includes 15 different sections with varying questions based on each categories risks. The checklist sections ranges from tractors, augers, combines, non-self propelled vehicles, livestock buildings among others. The farm safety reviewer schedules a time to conduct the review while the client is available to accompany the reviewer. The reviewer will evaluate each structure and piece of equipment using the checklist and deduct points for unsafe conditions. While doing this, the reviewer will provide education to the client regarding risks present on their farm and methods to remove them. A minimum score of > 85% is required to become “certified safe.” (more information)

Cash incentives have been provided to farmers for obtaining certification status and have proved valuable in helping CSF farmers make changes on their farms during the research phase. CSF has engaged the insurance and agribusiness communities in attempts to secure discounts for “certified safe” farmers and has not yet been able to secure this. CSF will continue to engage agribusinesses and insurance companies in attempts to provide discounts to farmers who have made a commitment to actively improve their health and the safety of their farm.

Farmers who have participated in CSF have overwhelmingly found it a useful and applicable to their everyday lives. CSF farmers have shown that education coupled with the occupational health screenings, on-farm safety reviews, and incentives is a successful method for changing attitudes and behaviors among farmers.