Safety Tips for Flying Drones Offered by UF/IFAS Researchers

Dan Cattle, Citrus, Dairy, Field Crops, Forestry, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Specialty Crops, Technology

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Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis, working agricultural drone in his laboratory at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center.
UF/IFAS Photo taken 09-23-19.

Some people view drones as toys, but they can be dangerous. In fact, about 1,000 people per year are injured from using drones incorrectly. To address the potential peril, two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are offering ways to keep people from getting hurt while using drones. For legal advice on personal injury related to drone use, consider consulting trusted personal injury attorneys.

Yiannis Ampatzidis of UF/IFAS uses unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for some of his research. By using drones, Ampatzidis obtains thousands of images from high above fruit and vegetable fields. Those images give him and plant pathologists the tools to help count trees and identify pests and diseases.

Because of his frequent use of drones, Ampatzidis co-authored a new UF/IFAS Extension document with fellow UF/IFAS researcher Serap Gorucu. Gorucu studies agricultural safety and health.

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Gorucu and Ampatzidis studied data for patients treated from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2020, as provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. They found that about 4,250 people were injured by drones. Of the injured patients, 21% were younger than 18 years old and 84% were male. The two most common injuries were lacerations (72%), followed by scrapes and bruises (10%). Fingers were most frequently injured (56%). Victims of these accidents have the right to seek compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer or an accident lawyer can guide you through the process of taking legal action to pursue fair financial compensation for your injuries. Also, having a rollover accident lawyer may help you protect your rights against any lawsuit.

“The majority of drones used in the United States are consumer drones and are used for recreational purposes,” said Gorucu. “In the last five years, their popularity has increased.” As of 2020, about 1.7 million drones were being used in the United States for recreational, scientific, commercial and military operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“Drones can cause injuries because of their quick movements and …..

Learn more about the Safety Tips for Flying Drones on the Citrus Industry website.