By: Samantha Capaldo
Labor is a critical aspect of most agricultural businesses and ensuring worker safety benefits both the employer and employees. Workers’ compensation is an important, and sometimes mandatory, risk management tool that compensates workers injured on the job, or who develop an occupational disease, for medical bills and lost wages. In Maryland, workers’ compensation is required to be purchased by the employer if the employer has one or more covered employees, unless an exception applies. Agricultural employers are exempt from Maryland’s workers’ compensation requirements if the employer has less than three full-time employees or has less than $15,000 in annual payroll for full-time employees. Agricultural employers are also required to purchase workers’ compensation or a comparable insurance coverage for all workers if they hire foreign agricultural workers through the H-2A program. Over the last year, we have put together publications, articles, and a list of resources to assist agricultural employers and employees with understanding their workers’ compensation responsibilities and rights.
UMES Extension Workers’ Compensation Guide – In March of 2025, we published a guide outlining who is required to purchase workers’ compensation under Maryland state law, who and which injuries are covered, what benefits are provided, employer and employee obligations, the role of the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission, and penalties for violating the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act.
UMES Extension Workers’ Compensation Webinar – In December of 2025, we hosted a webinar that goes through major portions of the Workers’ Compensation Guide.
Workers’ Compensation Requirements for the H-2A Program – An article was published on March 24, 2026, on the Maryland Risk Management Education blog explaining the workers’ compensation requirements for employers who only employ foreign agricultural workers through the H-2A program and for employers who employ both domestic and H-2A workers.
Maryland State Resources –
- Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission website
- Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act
- Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission regulations
Federal Resources –
