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Crush Injury Response

Crush injuries on farms can involve tractors, implements, bales, gates and livestock. They can be more serious than they appear, and the safest response is to call 911 and not to improvise a rescue.

What are crush injuries and where do they happen on farms?

A crush injury occurs when part of the body is squeezed between objects or trapped under weight. On farms, they can involve equipment, rollovers, heavy bales, gates, loading chutes and animals. They may affect limbs, the chest or the whole body, and some effects may not be obvious right away.

Because they can be complicated, they call for professional medical care. This guide describes the hazard, not treatment, and does not teach rescue or first aid techniques.

Children are at special risk around moving equipment and animals, so keep them out of work areas.

What should you do first?

Call 911 immediately. Give the exact address and tell the dispatcher what happened, what is trapping the person, and whether they are awake. Follow the dispatcher's instructions and stay on the line if told to.

Make sure the scene is safe. If a machine is running, if a load could shift, or if there is any other hazard, do not put yourself at risk. A second injured person does not help. Turn off equipment only if you can do so safely, as part of a plan you have practiced, and otherwise wait for responders.

If you can, send someone to the road or gate to guide responders, and leave gates unlatched ahead of time. Seconds saved on arrival matter.

Why is improvised rescue risky?

Moving a trapped person, lifting a load or freeing a limb without training can make injuries worse, and it can endanger the rescuer. Trained responders have equipment and medical knowledge to manage these situations. The details of what to do belong to recognized training and official guidance, not to a short article.

If you are trained and the dispatcher gives instructions, follow them. Otherwise, your best contributions are calling for help, staying safe, giving clear information and meeting responders at the road.

Training for responders is specialized, and recognized farm rescue programs exist for fire and EMS crews. Supporting local departments in attending them is one way a farm community can help.

• Call 911 first.
• Keep yourself safe.
• Give clear location details.
• Follow the dispatcher.

How can you prepare ahead of time?

Plan for how you would call for help from every part of the farm, and make sure everyone knows the address. Keep your emergency plan up to date. Consider arranging a visit with your local fire and rescue service so they know your layout and equipment.

Take a first aid course from a recognized provider, and ask whether local responders offer farm rescue awareness sessions. Many extension and farm safety programs do.

Share information about hazards with responders when they arrive: where fuel is stored, whether equipment is still running, and where the person was working. Clear details help them act safely.

• Know the address and phone coverage.
• Share your plan with responders.
• Take first aid training.
• Ask about farm rescue awareness programs.

How can crush injuries be prevented?

Prevention is the most reliable protection. Follow equipment manuals and official guidance for safe operation, including shutting down and securing equipment before anyone works on it. Use guards and safety devices as designed and never bypass them.

Manage loads and storage with care. Stack and store heavy items so they cannot fall or roll. Keep people out of areas where machinery is moving or loads are being handled, and keep children away from work areas. Use properly maintained gates, chutes and handling facilities for animals, and follow guidance on safe handling from extension or veterinary sources.

What support is available afterward?

A serious injury can affect a whole family and crew. Recovery can be long, and people may feel worried, guilty or overwhelmed. Reach out to health providers and support organizations. In the US, people can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if someone is struggling.

Farm support programs, extension offices and AgriSafe may help with resources, and rehabilitation programs exist for farmers who have been injured. Ask your health provider and extension office what is available.

Hospital rehabilitation teams and occupational therapists can often connect families with adaptive equipment and peer support, so ask during discharge planning.

Where can you learn more?

OSHA's agriculture pages and NIOSH's agriculture program publish information on machinery and equipment hazards. The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety and Progressive Agriculture Foundation provide education. Your local fire department can talk about local rescue resources.

Ask whether your state has a farm safety program or a land-grant university team that offers on-farm assessments. Services vary by state.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.