Abstract
The number of foreign workers in Japan’s agricultural sector has increased, and the use of agricultural machinery has increased considerably over the past decade. This cross-sectional survey investigated the use of agricultural machinery by foreign farm workers, highlighting work-related accidents. Managers of 1,103 farms accredited as “Good Agricultural Practice” were asked to complete a mailed questionnaire between August and October 2020. Results revealed 1,245 foreign workers across 133 farms, with 59.4 % of farms reporting the use of agricultural machinery by these workers. Of the 23 accidents reported involving foreign workers, seven (30.4 %) were related to agricultural machinery. Stakeholders in agricultural occupational safety should recognize the vulnerability of this workforce and develop appropriate preventive measures.
