Working conditions for agricultural workers vary widely. Much of the work of farmworkers and laborers on farms and ranches takes place outdoors in all kinds of weather and is physical in nature. Harvesting fruits and vegetables, for example, may require much bending, stooping, and lifting. Workers may lack adequate sanitation facilities while working in the field, and their drinking water may be limited. The year-round nature of much livestock production work means that ranch workers must be out in the heat of summer, as well as the cold of winter. While some of these workers enjoy the day-to-day variability of the work, the rural setting, working on the land, and raising animals, the work hours are generally uneven and often long, and work cannot be delayed when crops must be planted and harvested or when animals must be sheltered and fed. Weekend work is common, and farmworkers may work a 6- or 7-day week during planting and harvesting seasons. Because much of the work is seasonal in nature, many workers also obtain other jobs during slow seasons. Migrant farmworkers, who move from location to location as crops ripen, live an unsettled lifestyle, which can be stressful.
Work also is seasonal for farmworkers in nurseries; spring and summer are the busiest times of the year. Greenhouse workers enjoy relatively comfortable working conditions while tending to plants indoors. However, during the busy seasons, when landscape contractors need plants, work schedules may be more demanding, requiring weekend work. Moreover, the transition from warm weather to cold weather means that nursery workers might have to work overtime with little notice given in order to move plants indoors to protect them from a frost.
Federal meat inspectors may work in highly mechanized plants or with poultry or livestock in confined areas with extremely cold temperatures and slippery floors. The duties often require working with sharp knives, moderate lifting, and walking or standing for long periods. Many inspectors work long and often irregular hours. Inspectors may find themselves in adversarial roles when the organization or individual being inspected objects to the inspection or its potential consequences. Some inspectors travel frequently to visit farms and processing facilities. Others work at ports, inspecting cargo on the docks or on boats.
Graders and sorters may work with similar products for an entire shift, or they may be assigned a variety of items. They may be on their feet all day and may have to lift heavy objects, whereas others may sit during most of their shift and do little strenuous work. Some graders work in clean, air-conditioned environments, suitable for carrying out controlled tests. Some may work evenings or weekends because of the perishable nature of the products. Overtime may be required to meet production goals.
Animal breeders spend most of their time outdoors around animals, but can also work in offices or in laboratories. If consulting, breeders may have to travel from farm to farm. If they need to sell the offspring, breeders may have to travel to attend shows and to meet with potential buyers. While tending to the animals, breeders may be bitten or kicked.
Farmworkers in crop production risk exposure to pesticides and other hazardous chemicals sprayed on crops or plants. However, exposure is relatively minimal if safety procedures are followed. Those who work on mechanized farms must take precautions to avoid injury when working with tools and heavy equipment. Those who work directly with animals risk being bitten or kicked.
| How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job? |
|
|
| How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? |
|
|
| How often do you use electronic mail in this job? |
|
|
| How often does the job require written letters and memos? |
|
|
| How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
|
|
| How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
|
| | | | | | | | Contact with others most of the time
(56.7600%) | |
|
| How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
|
|
| How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
|
| | | | | Not important at all
(57.8300%) | | | | |
|
| How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
|
|
| How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
|
| | | | | | | | High responsibility
(38.2100%) | |
|
| How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? |
|
| | | | | | | | High responsibility
(56.9100%) | |
|
| How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? |
|
| | | | | | | | Once a week or more but not every day
(56.8000%) | |
|
| How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? |
|
| | | | | | Once a year or more but not every month
(40.2000%) | | | |
|
| How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)? |
|
| | | | | | | | Once a week or more but not every day
(57.7400%) | |
|
| How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (e.g., structure with roof but no walls)? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)? |
|
|
| To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
|
| | | | | | | | Moderately close (at arm's length)
(57.9000%) | |
|
| How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? |
|
| | | | | | | | Once a week or more but not every day
(40.0800%) | |
|
| How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? |
|
|
| How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions? |
|
| | | | | | | Once a month or more but not every week
(56.9000%) | | |
|
| How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)? |
|
|
| How often does this job require exposure to radiation? |
|
|
| How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections? |
|
|
| How often does this job require exposure to high places? |
|
| | | | | | Once a year or more but not every month
(75.6300%) | | | |
|
| How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions? |
|
| | | | | | | Once a month or more but not every week
(57.8300%) | | |
|
| How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment? |
|
| | | | | | | | Once a week or more but not every day
(39.9200%) | |
|
| How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings? |
|
| | | | | | | Once a month or more but not every week
(21.3300%) | | |
|
| How much does this job require sitting? |
|
| | | | | | | About half the time
(57.0900%) | | |
|
| How much does this job require standing? |
|
| | | | | | Less than half the time
(40.4600%) | | | |
|
| How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, or poles? |
|
| | | | | | Less than half the time
(58.4300%) | | | |
|
| How much does this job require walking and running? |
|
| | | | | | Less than half the time
(59.3600%) | | | |
|
| How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling? |
|
| | | | | | Less than half the time
(77.4800%) | | | |
|
| How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance? |
|
|
| How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? |
|
| | | | | | | | More than half the time
(57.0500%) | |
|
| How much does this job require bending or twisting your body? |
|
| | | | | | Less than half the time
(58.0400%) | | | |
|
| How much does this job require making repetitive motions? |
|
| | | | | | | About half the time
(37.9900%) | | |
|
| How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? |
|
|
| How much does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection? |
|
|
| How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? |
|
|
| How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company? |
|
| | | | | | | | Important results
(59.6400%) | |
|
| How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
|
|
| How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
|
|
| How automated is the job? |
|
| | | | | | | Moderately automated
(39.3100%) | | |
|
| How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
|
|
| How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? |
|
|
| To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? |
|
| | | | | | | Limited freedom
(38.1200%) | | |
|
| To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? |
|
| | | | | Not at all competitive
(39.2600%) | | | | |
|
| How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
|
| | | | | | | | Once a week or more but not every day
(58.0500%) | |
|
| How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.) |
|
|
| How regular are the work schedules for this job? |
|
| | | | Irregular (changes with weather conditions, production demands, or contract duration)
(60.2000%) | |
|
| Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
|
| | | | | More than 40 hours
(61.9800%) |
|
4.49
4.01
4.00
3.92
3.91
3.67
3.63
3.56
3.51
3.29
3.07
2.87
2.83
2.60
2.29
4.25
3.25
3.12
3.00
2.93
2.87
2.75
2.50
2.37
2.31
2.25
2.12
1.87