Prevention Ahead of Accidents... Yeongyang-gun Turns Farmers' Safety into Training

Embodied program reflecting the reality of an aging countryside
From the use of protective gear
To musculoskeletal care

Yeongyang-gun has launched hands-on training programs to reduce accidents in agricultural workplaces. Given the local conditions, where there is a high proportion of elderly farmers, the aim is to build a preventive system that goes beyond simple knowledge transfer and focuses on learning through physical practice.

Yeongyang-gun Farmers' Safety Practice Capacity-Building Training

The county is providing the "Farmers' Safety Practice Capacity-Building Course" twice, on January 27 and February 11. The program focuses on preventing common types of accidents that easily occur during farm work in advance, and on enhancing farmers' ability to manage risks on their own.

According to data from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the rate of industrial accidents among workers aged 60 and older in the agri-industry sector is higher than the average for other industries. Major accidents include slips and trips, farm machinery-related accidents, falls, musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive motions or excessive force, and collisions. In other words, there is a constant possibility that routine tasks can lead to serious injuries.

The training uses standard teaching materials distributed by the Rural Development Administration. It covers understanding systems related to serious accidents, prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, and how to use protective equipment such as harvesting aprons, safety gloves, and work chairs.

On top of this, participatory practice has been greatly strengthened. The program is structured so that participants must directly follow and learn stretching exercises that reduce muscle fatigue and taping techniques that help relieve pain, thereby improving applicability in the field. The goal is to ensure that farmers can immediately apply what they learn to their work environments right after the training.

Cho Yongwan, Director of the Yeongyang-gun Agricultural Technology Center, said, "When it comes to safety in farm work, the most important factors are farmers' awareness and practice," adding, "Through continuous education, we will make sure that a culture of preventing risks takes root throughout local agriculture."

As the aging of rural areas accelerates, safety is becoming a condition for survival rather than a matter of choice. Attention is focusing on whether this effort to reduce recurring accidents will become a foundation for protecting both agricultural productivity and quality of life.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.