Occupational Safety in Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review of Practices and Health Outcomes

Reny Nugraheni; Achmadi Susilo

doi:10.26737/ij-mds.v8i1.7647

Occupational Safety in Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review of Practices and Health Outcomes

Reny Nugraheni, Achmadi Susilo

Abstract

This study aims to conduct a systematic review of occupational safety practices in the agricultural sector and their impact on worker health. The agricultural sector remains one of the sectors with the highest rates of workplace accidents and exposure to hazardous chemicals, especially in developing countries. Using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, 21 scientific articles published in the past ten years were analyzed. The review results indicated that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), occupational safety training, and strict regulations contribute significantly to reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning and work injuries. However, in many regions such as Indonesia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, PPE use remained low due to limited access and quality. Safety training was effective in reducing symptoms of acute poisoning, but implementation was uneven. Furthermore, chronic pesticide exposure remained a serious threat with symptoms of respiratory, neurological, and even heart disease. Studies in countries such as Iran, Colombia, and the United States showed that strong supervision and community-based education can increase risk awareness and encourage safer work behaviours. This study concluded that an integrative approach encompassing education, regulation, access to PPE, and health services was key to improving occupational safety and health in the global agricultural sector.

Keywords

Occupational Safety; Pesticides; Work Accidents; Agricultural Sector; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Agrarian Health

Full Text:

PDF

References

Abubakar, M. S., Adamu, M. D., Musa, R. M., & Ibrahim, A. M. (2015). Occupational hazards and safety measures among farmers in rural communities in Nigeria. Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 22(3), 234–241.

Ahyanti, M., Yushananta, P., Angraini, Y., Sariyanto, I., Sujito, E., & Nuryani, D. (2022). Keselamatan kesehatan kerja menggunakan pestisida bagi petani hortikultura kabupaten lampung barat. Jurnal Kreativitas Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (PKM), 5(8), 2554-2566. https://doi.org/10.33024/jkpm.v5i8.6582

Akbar, F. (2019). Analisis risiko k3 pemberantasan hama pekerjaan pertanian jeruk. Journal of Public Health Research and Community Health Development, 3(1), 01. https://doi.org/10.20473/jphrecode.v3i1.13067

Arora, K., Cheyney, M., Gerr, F., Bhagianadh, D., Gibbs, J., & Anthony, T. R. (2020). Assessing health and safety concerns and psychological stressors among agricultural workers in the U.S. Midwest. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 26(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.13031/jash.13660

Bai, H., Beseler, C., Baccaglini, L., & Rautiainen, R. H. (2023). Work-related stress as a risk factor for farm injuries in the central United States. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 29(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.13031/jash.14951

Ban, N., Inayah, R., & Nurul Azizah, N. (2025). Penggunaan alat pelindung diri dan durasi penyemprotan terhadap gangguan kesehatan petani. Jurnal Sulolipu, 25(1).

Bereznyak, I. V., Fedorova, S. G., & Ilnitskaya, A. V. (2022). Hygienic standardization of pesticides: Scientific and practical aspects. Russian Journal of Social Medicine, 26(1), 41–46.

Bhattacherjee, A., Chau, N., Sierra, C., Legras, B., & Benamghar, L. (2013). Occupational health risks among agricultural workers in India. Journal of Occupational Health, 55(3), 182–190. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.12-0150-OA

Corral, A., Rodríguez, F., & Pérez, L. (2023). Exposure to mixtures of pesticides and respiratory health in avocado farmers in Colombia: A cross-sectional study. Science of the Total Environment, 856, 159138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.159138

Díaz Criollo, S., Palma, M., Monroy García, A. A., Idrovo, A. J., Combariza, D., & Varona Uribe, M. E. (2020). Chronic pesticide mixture exposure including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers. Industrial Health, 58(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2018-0111

Farahmandfard, M. A., & Khanjani, N. (2023). The situation of agricultural pesticide use and its human health hazards in Iran: A qualitative study. Health Scope, 13(1), e131199. https://doi.org/10.5812/healthscope-131199

Franklin, R. C., Depczynski, J. C., Challinor, K. D., Williams, W., & Fragar, L. J. (2015). Fatalities in farming and related industries in the United States, 1990–2012. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58(3), 285–292. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22420

Ginting, D., et al. (2019). Evaluasi penggunaan alat pelindung diri pada petani hortikultura di Kabupaten Bandung. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan, 17(1), 23–30.

Ginting, D., et al. (2019). Evaluasi penggunaan APD dan pelatihan pada petani hortikultura. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 14(2), 89–96.

Gorucu, S., Michael, J., & Chege, K. (2022). Nonfatal agricultural injuries treated in emergency departments: 2015–2019. Journal of Agromedicine, 27(1), 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2021.1913271

Haerani, Andi Ruhban, Inayah, & Nurul Azizah. (2025). Faktor risiko pajanan pestisida terhadap gangguan kesehatan petani bawang merah di Kelurahan Kalosi, Kecamatan Alla, Kabupaten Enrekang. Jurnal Sulolipu: Media Komunikasi Sivitas Akademika dan Masyarakat, 25(1).

Herlina, E. (2022). Hubungan antara efektivitas manajemen keselamatan dan kesehatan kerja dengan produktivitas karyawan. Comserva Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 1(9), 647-656. https://doi.org/10.36418/comserva.v1i9.125

ILO. (2020). Safety and health in agriculture. International Labour Organization.

Kando, B. and Farizal, J. (2018). Gambaran kadar enzim cholinesterase pada wanita usia subur (wus) yang aktif membantu aktivitas pertanian di kecamatan sukaraja kabupaten seluma tahun 2017. Journal of Nursing and Public Health, 5(1), 22-26. https://doi.org/10.37676/jnph.v5i1.551

Kapeleka, J. A., Ngowi, A. V., Mng’anya, S., Willis, S. E., Salmon, J. P., Tyrell, K. F., Williamson, S., Eddleston, M., & Stuart, A. M. (2025). Assessment of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning (UAPP) amongst cotton farmers in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study of 1,074 participants. Toxics, 13(4), 300. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13040300

London, L., Beseler, C., Bouchard, M. F., Bellinger, D. C., Colosio, C., Grandjean, P., Harari, R., Kootbodien, T., Kromhout, H., Little, F., Meijster, T., Moretto, A., Rohlman, D. S., & Stallones, L. (2012). Neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental effects of pesticide exposures: A review of recent evidence. NeuroToxicology, 33(4), 887–896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2012.01.004

Mahawati, E., Husodo, A., Astuti, I., & Sarto, S. (2017). Pengaruh teknik aplikasi pestisida terhadap derajat keparahan penyakit paru obstruktif kronis (ppok) pada petani. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan Indonesia, 16(2), 37. https://doi.org/10.14710/jkli.16.2.37-45

Mostafalou, S., & Abdollahi, M. (2013). Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives. Toxicology and applied pharmacology, 268(2), 157-177.

Najafi, E., Khanjani, N., Parastar, S., Azizi Shalke, B., Fathzadeh, Y., Nazari, S., Asgari, E., & Najafi Saleh, H. (2025). Assessment of pesticide handling and use practices and associated health and safety concerns among rice farmers in Northern Iran. Scientific Reports, 15, 25303. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09624-5

Pourmasumi, S., Khalili, P., Jamali, Z., Nadimi, A. E., Hakimi, H., Falahati‑pour, S. K., Vakilian, A., Naderi, M., Ahmadi, Z., Vazifeshenas, M. R., Nazari, A., Ayoobi, F., Koniari, I., & Kounis, N. G. (2025). Association between pesticide exposure and ischemic heart disease among adults who took part in the Rafsanjan cohort study. Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 11(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.36922/jctr.22.00187

Ridyasmara, S., Adnyani, I., & Sultan, S. (2024). Analisis penerapan kesehatan dan keselamatan kerja di laboratorium sistem tenaga listrik menggunakan metode kaizen. Jurnal Penelitian Inovatif, 4(4), 2217-2226. https://doi.org/10.54082/jupin.746

Sahuri, S. and Sahna, S. (2021). Efektivitas program penyuluhan penggunaan alat pelindung diri (apd) pada petani bawang merah saat pemberian pestisida di desa tegalglagah. Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 20(3), 111-117. https://doi.org/10.33221/jikes.v20i3.1445

Semnasti, A., Semnasti, R., Semnasti, K., Semnasti, T., & Semnasti, F. (2023). Analisis dampak program kesehatan dan keselamatan kerja (K3) terhadap penurunan kecelakaan kerja di industri konstruksi. Waluyo Jatmiko Proceeding, 331-340. https://doi.org/10.33005/wj.v16i1.40

Solomon, M., & Nazziwa, S. (2024). Evaluating and enhancing a behavioral intervention to reduce acute pesticide poisoning: A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Uganda. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1470276. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1470276

Sookhtanlou, M., & Allahyari, M. S. (2021). Farmers’ health risk and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during pesticide application. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 28(22), 28168–28178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12502

Susanna, D. (2017). Evaluasi risiko pestisida pada petani Indonesia. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan, 9(1), 45–53.

Susanna, D. (2017). The role of protective equipment in reducing pesticide exposure among agricultural workers in Indonesia. Journal of Public Health Policy, 38(4), 563-574.

Tallo, Y., Littik, S., & Doke, S. (2022). Gambaran perilaku petani dalam penggunaan pestisida dan alat pelindung diri terhadap keluhan kesehatan petani di desa netenaen kabupaten rote ndao. Jurnal Pangan Gizi dan Kesehatan, 11(1), 64-80. https://doi.org/10.51556/ejpazih.v11i1.184

Yuantari, M., Widianarko, B., & Sunoko, H. (2015). Analisis risiko pajanan pestisida terhadap kesehatan petani. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 10(2), 239. https://doi.org/10.15294/kemas.v10i2.3387

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26737/ij-mds.v8i1.7647

Refbacks

There are currently no refbacks.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Publisher:

Institute of Managing and Publishing of Scientific Journals, STKIP Singkawang

Address : STKIP Singkawang, Jalan STKIP - Kelurahan Naram, Singkawang, Kalimantan Barat, INDONESIA, 79251
No. Telp. : +62562 420 0344
No. Fax. : +62562 420 0584

International Journal of Multi Disipline Science

e-ISSN : 2615-1707