|
Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers
are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. Farming
is one of the few industries in which the families (who often
share the work and live on the premises) are also at risk
for fatal and nonfatal injuries.
|
- Approximately 185,000 full-time workers were employed in production
agriculture in the U.S. in 2002. (The number of full-time production agriculture
workers has been on a gradual decline, with the number dipping
below 2 million in 1999-2000 for the first time since workforce
data has been collected.)
- An estimated 1.26 million children and adolescents under 20
years of age resided on farms in 1998, with about 725,000 of these
youth performing work on the farms. In addition to the youth who
live on farms, over 666,000 children and adolescents were hired
to work on U.S. farms in 1998.
- On average, 103 children are killed annually working on farms
(1990-1996).
- In 1998, an estimated 32,000 children and adolescents were injured
performing farm work.
- In an average year, 110 American farm workers are crushed to
death by tractor rollovers (1992-2000).
- Every day, about 500 agricultural workers suffer lost-work-time
injuries, and about 5% of these result in permanent impairment.
In FY 1990, Congress directed NIOSH to develop an extensive agricultural
safety and health program to address the high risks of injuries
and illnesses experienced by workers and families in agriculture.
NIOSH funds research and prevention programs at university centers
in 20 states. These programs conduct research on injuries associated
with different farm operations, as well as pesticide exposure, pulmonary
disease, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss, and stress.
Selected NIOSH Publications and Websites on Agricultural Safety
National Agricultural
Safety Database (NASD) Website
The National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD) is a collection
of information about health, safety and injury prevention in agriculture.
The information in the database was contributed by safety professionals
and organizations from across the nation in an effort to promote
safety in agriculture.
Fatal
Unintentional Farm Injuries Among Persons Less Than 20 Years of
Age in the United States: Geographic Profiles, NIOSH (DHHS)
Publication No. 2001-131 (July 2001)
Youth on farms may be exposed to a wide range of hazards, including
machinery, electric current, firearms, bodies of water, grain storage
facilities, and livestock. As a place of work and a place of residence,
the farm presents unique challenges for injury prevention. This
document presents data by state, Census region, and Census division
for all youth fatalities on U.S. farms between 1982 and 1996. These
data, drawn from the Vital Statistics Mortality files of the National
Center for Health Statistics, indicate that nearly 2,200 youth were
fatally injured on farms during this 15-year period, and that the
leading causes of death varied considerably across geographic areas.
Injuries
Among Youth on Farms in the United States, 1998, NIOSH (DHHS)
Publication No. 2001-154 (June 2001)--
More than two million youth less than 20 years of age are potentially
exposed to agricultural hazards each year--as farm residents, farm
family workers, hired workers, children of migrant or seasonal workers,
or farm visitors. This document presents national and regional data
for nonfatal youth injuries on U.S. farms for 1998. These data,
drawn from a special survey of farm operators across the U.S., indicate
that nearly 33,000 youth were injured on farms during 1998, and
that major causes of injury included falls, animals, and vehicles
such as ATVs.
Injuries
Among Farm Workers in the United States, 1995, NIOSH (DHHS)
Publication No. 2001-153 (May 2001)--
The intent of this document is to present the third and
final year of the Traumatic Injury Survey of Farming (TISF) results
in an easily accessible statistical abstract format. This is the
third in the series of TISF reports [Myers: 1997; Myers, 1998]. No attempt is made to interpret the results presented
here because of the quantity of data presented, and because these
data represent only one part of a more complex survey. It is hoped
that the data will be used by public health and safety professionals,
engineers, and other groups working in the area of farm safety to
injury control research.
NIOSH
Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention Initiative Website
This Website compiles all current NIOSH information on childhood
agricutural injury and the federal initiative implemented to address
this problem. Resources include recent publications, fatality investigation
reports, and links to relevant external Websites.
NIOSH Agricultural
Safety and Health Topic Page (Website)
This list of NIOSH resources contains links to publications and
Websites on safety and health topics.
Other Websites-Agricultural
(Website)
This is a list of Websites of other organizations external to NIOSH.
NIOSH Alert: Preventing
Phosphine Poisoning and Explosions during Fumigation, DHHS (NIOSH)
Publication No. 99-126 (September 1999)
Phosphide fumigants release toxic phosphine gas (PH3) when they
contact moisture in the air. When phosphine is inhaled, it can react
with moisture in the lungs to form phosphoric acid, which can cause
blistering and edema. These effects can be serious or fatal. Exposure
to phosphine has also been linked with other effects such as chest
tightness, headache, dizziness, and nausea. Also, improper handling
of aluminum and magnesium phosphide has caused injuries from flash
fires and explosions. This Alert describes 205 cases of illness
or injury in workers exposed to phosphine gas associated with phosphide
fumigants. Recommendations are provided for workers and employers
that cover areas such as: aeration and re-entry after fumigation,
industrial hygiene monitoring, personal hygiene, protective clothing,
and respirators.
New Directions
in the Surveillance of Hired Farm Worker Health and Occupational
Safety: A Report of the Work Group Convened by NIOSH, May 5, 1995,
to Identify Priorities for Hired Farm Worker Occupational Health
Surveillance and Research (1998)
As part of its agricultural safety and health initiative, NIOSH
convened a work group in May 1995 consisting of experts in the areas
of public policy, farm worker health, and occupational health, to
assist in developing a prioritized set of objectives for the surveillance
of hired farm worker occupational safety and health. New Directions
in the Surveillance of Hired Farm Worker Health and Occupational
Safety is the report to NIOSH from that work group. In addition
to priorities for surveillance and research of the occupational
safety and health of hired farm workers, this comprehensive report
outlines the factors that determine the occupational health status
of hired farm workers. It also suggests recommendations for overcoming
barriers involved in research with this population.
Recommendations
to Improve Safety in Potato Harvesting and Packing in Southern Colorado,
HHE-980172
NIOSH provided assistance on a study related to injuries in the
potato production and packing industry. This work was conducted
under an agricultural health hazard evaluation (HHE) requested by
Colorado State University (CSU) which involves defining the extent
and nature of injuries in the industry and advising farmers and
packers about effective controls to reduce the risk of injury. NIOSH
researchers, in collaboration with CSU, visited a number of harvesting
and packing operations. During the walk-throughs, the team collected
data and provided verbal suggestions concerning equipment modifications
to reduce the risk of hand and back injuries. This is a summary
report with specific recommendations for the industry.
Hazard ID #4: Ignition
Hazard from Drilling into Sealed Frames of Agricultural Equipment,
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-146 (July 1998)
NIOSH received two separate reports of farm workers who were injured
while attempting to drill holes into sealed plow frames in order
to mount a hitch or a "slow-moving vehicle" sign. These
workers received serious skin burns and other injuries when the
drill bits penetrated the frames releasing and igniting flammable
gases. Hydrogen and methane gas may be produced within sealed frames
that are filled during manufacture with scrap metal ballast. Although
the reported ignitions involved plows from the same manufacturer,
the use of scrap metal fill may not be unique to plows or to that
manufacturer. The potential for such ignitions exists in any equipment
with similar ballast in sealed compartments during drilling, cutting,
welding, or other operations that both release the gases and provide
an ignition source. This Hazard ID provides recommendations for
agricultural workers, equipment manufacturers, equipment dealers,
agricultural extension agents, and universities in dealing with
this hazard.
Safe Grain and
Silage Handling, NIOSH (DHHS) Pub. No. 95-109 (October 1995)
Grain-handling machinery is the second largest cause of farm machinery
related deaths and also causes many severe disfiguring injuries
and amputations. Many grain-handling hazards can be avoided. The
goal of this booklet is to point out these hazards and suggest practical
ways to prevent injury. These suggestions were gathered from agricultural
engineers and safety experts throughout the world, but primarily
from the United States and Canada.
NIOSH ALERT:Preventing
Scalping and Other Severe Injuries from Farm Machinery, DHHS
(NIOSH) Publication No. 94-105 (June 1994)
This Alert describes five cases of persons who were scalped when
their hair became entangled around the inadequately guarded rotating
drivelines or shafts of farm machinery driven by power take-offs
(PTOs). Such entanglements of hair, clothing, or body parts kill
and injure many farm workers each year. The recommendations in this
Alert are provided tol help prevent these entanglement injuries
and deaths.
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Deaths of Farm Workers in Manure Pits
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-103 (May 1990)
This Alert describes seven deaths from asphyxiation (suffocation)
that occurred during two incidents involving entry into manure pits.
The recommendations included in this Alert should be followed by
all farm owners and operators who have manure pits on their property.
Editors of appropriate trade journals, agriculture extension agents,
farm owners and operators, and those in the agricultural trades
are requested to bring the recommendations in this Alert to the
attention of all workers who are at risk.
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Entrapment and Suffocation Caused by the Unstable Surfaces of Stored
Grain and Other Materials
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 88-102 (December 1987)
Entrapment and suffocation are hazards associated with storage
bins and hoppers where loose materials such as grain, sand, or gravel
are stored, handled, or transferred. The fatalities described in
this Alert occurred when suspended materials or crusted surfaces
of stored material suddenly broke loose and entrapped the workers.
The behavior of such material is unpredictable, and entrapment and
burial can occur in a matter of seconds. This Alert recounts seven
case reports describing the deaths of 12 workers. In each case,
the workers became entrapped in grain or other loose material and
were unable to free themselves or be freed by their co-workers.
These deaths demonstrate the need to focus on preventing future
fatalities.
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Grain Auger Electrocutions
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-119 (July 1986)
This Alert requests the assistance of farm owners/managers, farm/agricultural
workers, and farm equipment manufacturers in the prevention of electrocutions
which may occur while moving metal grain augers. The grain auger
is an essential piece of farm equipment which is used to move grain
from one location to another. However, every year accidents occur
when this piece of equipment is improperly moved in the elevated
position and it comes into contact with high voltage power lines.
This has resulted in one or more fatalities per incident. This Alert
describes two separate incidents that resulted in five fatalities,
and occurred within the same week (150 miles apart), and provides
recommendations aimed at preventing auger-related electrocutions.
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Fatalities Due to Fires and Explosions in Oxygen-Limiting Silos
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-118 (July 1986)
This Alert requests the assistance of fire department personnel,
farm owners and workers, and silo manufacturers in the prevention
of fatalities due to fires and explosions occurring in oxygen-limiting
silos. Several recent incidents occurred while fighting oxygen-limiting
silo fires which resulted in the death of fire fighters. Other fire
fighters lost their lives as a result of similar explosions in the
late 1960s. The problems associated with burning silos appeared
to have abated during recent years, but these incidents demonstrate
the need to renew efforts to minimize their recurrence. A concerted
effort should be made to prevent silo fires from occurring and to
provide training programs on controlling this type of fire.
Fatality Investigation Reports (conducted
under the FACE Program)
Since the inception of the FACE program in 1982, several fatal
incidents involving agricultural activities have been investigated
by NIOSH and over 200 fatal incidents involving agricultural activities
have been investigated by State investigators. This link provides
a list of those cases which in turn links to the full-text reports
on the FACEWeb.
Other NIOSH Publications related to Agricultural Safety:
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Injuries and Deaths from Skid Steer Loaders. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication
No. 98-117 (February 1998)
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Deaths and Injuries of Adolescent Workers. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication
No. 95-125 (May 1995)
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Small Gasoline-Powered Engines and
Tools. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-118
Other Links of Interest:
Migrant
and Seasonal Hired Adolescent Farmworkers: A Plan to Improve Working
Conditions. Recommendations from the National Adolescent Farmworker
Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee. National
Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety,
National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI.
|