Women in agriculture
Introduction
- The agricultural sector is still a significant employer of women.
- Many more women contribute as wives, partners or family members. These workers may not be covered by occupational safety and health legislation.
- Women are concentrated in the elementary jobs in the agricultural sector.
- Although the accident rate is higher for men, both men and women report high levels of accidents in the sector.
Women family agricultural workers are generally:
- 38 % of family workers;
- older than men;
- working part-time (86 %);
- the spouse of the holder (three in four spouses are women; almost one holder in four is a woman); and
- managing smallholdings.
The agricultural sector is a significant employer of both women and men in the EU. Agriculture is the fifth highest employer of men in the EU, some 5 % of the total workforce, and the seventh highest employer of women, accounting for 3 % of women in employment. In Greece and Portugal, agriculture is still the main employer of women. Many women will also contribute as wives or partners of farmers, and temporary, casual seasonal work, for example during the harvesting season, is probably an important feature of women’s work in this sector.
Traditionally, a farm in Europe is a family concern often worked by a couple, with the wife helping her husband with numerous daily tasks. Of family workers in agriculture in the EU, 38 % are women. There is likely to be considerable task segregation by gender. Women are concentrated in elementary jobs in the agricultural sector. Women farm managers are generally older and have had a lower level of agricultural training than men.
The many women, who are partners in family run farming businesses, and not employees, may fall outside the scope of safety and health legislation. Some Member States, such as the UK, have decided to treat such farm workers as employees for the application of safety and health law, and have covered the issue in sector guidance.
Women working in agriculture may be exposed to the same hazards and risks as male workers, but in addition face further risks, particularly to reproductive health (e.g. from pesticides and biological agents). Additionally, women may be at greater risk of work related neck and upper limb disorders.
Including women in your risk assessment
Risk assessments in many cases will be no different for either men or women. However, where women are at greater risk, such as with work related neck and upper limb disorders, or risks to their reproductive health, gender differences will have to taken into account.
In addition, risk assessments must take particular account of risks to pregnant women and breast feeding mothers.
Continuous efforts are needed to improve the working conditions of both women and men. However, taking a ‘gender-neutral’ approach to risk assessment and prevention can result in risks to female workers being underestimated or even ignored altogether.
Key issues for gender-sensitive risk assessment
- Having a positive commitment and taking gender issues seriously.
- Looking at the real working situation.
- Involving all workers, women and men, at all stages.
- Avoiding making prior assumptions about what the hazards are and who is at risk.
Risk assessment should take account of gender issues, differences and inequalities. Work, its organisation and the equipment used should be designed to match people, not the other way round. This principle is enshrined in EU legislation. The legislation requires employers to carry out risk management based on risk assessment, and this can be divided into five stages:
- Hazard identification
- Risk assessment
- Implementation of solutions
- Monitoring
- Review
At each of these stages, the issue of gender should be considered.
Hazard identification
Include gender by:
- considering hazards prevalent in both male- and female dominated jobs;
- looking for health hazards as well as safety hazards;
- asking both female and male workers what problems they have in their work, in a structured way;
- avoiding making initial assumptions about what may be ‘trivial’;
- considering the entire workforce, e.g. cleaners, receptionists;
- not forgetting part-time, temporary or agency workers, and those on sick leave at the time of the assessment;
- encouraging women to report issues that they think may affect their safety and health at work, as well as health problems that may be related to work;
- looking at and asking about wider work and health issues;
- identify hazards that could be a health or safety risk to pregnant women or breast feeding mothers such as manual handling, exposure to chemicals and exposure to infectious diseases (e.g. pregnant women risk abortion if they are infected with Chlamydia, the organism causing enzootic abortion in sheep).
Risk assessment
Include gender by:
- looking at the real jobs being done and the real work context;
- not making assumptions about exposure based purely on job description or title;
- being careful about gender bias in prioritising risks according to high, medium and low;
- involving female workers in risk assessment. Consider using health circles and risk mapping methods. Participative ergonomics and stress interventions can offer some methods;
- making sure those doing the assessments have sufficient information and training about gender issues in occupational safety and health (OSH);
- making sure instruments and tools used for assessment include issues relevant to both male and female workers. If they do not, adapt them;
- informing any external assessors that they should take a genders sensitive approach, and checking that they are able to do this;
- paying attention to gender issues when the OSH implications of any changes planned in the workplace are looked at.
Implementation of solutions
Include gender by:
- aiming to eliminate risks at source, to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all workers. This includes risks to reproductive health;
- paying attention to diverse populations and adapting work and preventive measures to workers. For example, selection of protective equipment according to individual needs, suitable for women and ‘non-average’ men;
- involving female workers in the decision-making and implementation of solutions;
- making sure female workers as well as men are provided with OSH information and training relevant to the jobs they do and their working conditions and health effects. Ensure part-time, temporary and agency workers are included.
Monitoring and review
For example, include gender by:
- making sure female workers participate in monitoring and review processes;
- being aware of new information about gender-related occupational health issues.
Health surveillance can be part of both risk assessment and monitoring:
- include surveillance relevant to jobs of both male and female workers;
- take care about making assumptions, for example based on job title, about whom to include in monitoring activities;
- accident records are an important part of both risk assessment and monitoring; and
- encourage the recording of occupational health issues as well as accidents.
Promoting gender-sensitivity in OSH management
- Reviewing safety policies, specifically including a commitment to gender mainstreaming, and relevant objectives and procedures.
- Seeking to ensure that both internal and external occupational health services used will take a gender-sensitive approach.
- Providing relevant training and information on gender issues regarding safety and health risks to risk assessors, managers and supervisors, trade union representatives, safety committees, etc.
- Linking occupational safety and health into any workplace equality actions, including equality plans.
- Looking at ways to encourage more women to be involved in safety committees. For example, are meetings held at times when women can attend?
Further information
The Agency’s report Gender issues in safety and health at work — A review, provides more information about risks to women workers and their prevention.
The Agency’s web site has a section devoted to providing links to further information related to women and occupational safety and health .
Agency Factsheet 42: Gender issues in safety and health at work
Available in: Español Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ellinika English Français Italiano Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Malti Nederlands Polski Português Slovenčina Slovenščina Suomi Svenska
Agency Factsheet 43: Including gender issues in risk assessment
Available in: Español Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ellinika English Français Italiano Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Malti Nederlands Polski Português Slovenčina Slovenščina Suomi Svenska
