Agricultural Injuries in Norway

SUMMARY

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 10,000 farmers of a total farmer population of 73,000. The primary questions to the farmers were related to injuries they may have had in the previous year which made it difficult for them to carry out normal daily work for one or more days. Responses were received from 7,800 farmers.

The results of this survey show that 6? of the farmers had such an injury. The number of injuries per million working hours was 29. Nineteen percent of the injuries were caused by animals, 16? by uneven and slippery surfaces and 15? by tractors and equipment.     

Agricultural Health and Safety Performance in Australia

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the proportion of Australian farming enterprises with systems and processes that meet current regulatory and industry standards for health and safety. Data from 683 farming enterprises were drawn from a nationally stratified random sample representing seven commodity sectors: beef cattle, cotton, dairy, horticulture, grain growing, sheep, and sugar cane. Results indicated low levels of implementation for farm health and safety plans as well as induction for new workers and contractors. Improvements to control major safety hazards are required for farm machinery and implements, farm vehicles, reducing exposure of children to hazards, and the use of helmets when riding quad bikes, motorbikes, and horses. There were considerable variations between commodity sectors. There remains significant scope to enhance the safety of farmers in Australia.     

Risk factors for falls among Iowa farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study

BACKGROUND: Farmers are at increased risk for fall-related injury compared with other occupations. Little is known about risk factors for non-fatal falls on the farm. This case-control study, nested within the Agricultural Health Study, aimed to assess risk factors for work-related falls among Iowa farmers. METHODS: A screener questionnaire sent to 6,999 farmers in 1998 identified 79 farmers who reported a fall-related farm injury that required medical advice or treatment in the previous year. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess several possible risk factors for injury among these farmers compared with 473 farmers with no injury in the previous year. RESULTS: There were significant associations between fall-related farm injury and age between 40 and 64 years (OR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.20-4.07), doctor-diagnosed arthritis/rheumatism (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.11-3.79), difficulty hearing normal conversation (even with a hearing aid, in the case of those who used one) (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.07-3.08), and taking medications regularly (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.02-3.18). CONCLUSIONS: Aging and health impairments, such as arthritis and hearing difficulties, are risk factors for which accommodations and preventive strategies can be devised to prevent fall-related injuries on the farm.     

Equipment Engineering Issues Associated with Childhood Agricultural Injuries

Many children have been seriously or fatally injured in the course of their exposure to agricultural equipment. They are injured as workers or bystanders, sometimes when accompanying adults. Engineers face several issues with respect to designs of agricultural equipment, which might reduce childhood agricultural injuries. These involve farmer desires to behaviors, age-appropriate behaviors of children, the potential efficacy of various features, and the net impact on the injury situation of features that accommodate children. This paper examines these issues and calls for diverse input and research into these areas.     

Animal-Related Activities as Risk Factors for Injuries Among Youth on Agricultural Operations

ABSTRACT

Working with animals on agricultural operations is hazardous for youths. This study evaluated the associations between activities and injuries related to specific animal types. A case-control study within the Regional Rural Injury Study II included 425 youths (less than 20 years of age) with injuries related to their operation and 1,886 controls (randomly selected youths). Exposures of interest were collected for the months prior to injury events for cases and randomly selected months for controls, based on an injury incidence algorithm. Multivariate logistic regression characterized associations between specific animal-related activities and injury outcomes among youths who reported working with the same animals. Large proportions of cases and controls, respectively, worked with beef cattle (47%, 28%), followed by horses (28%, 14%), and dairy cattle (22%, 12%). Feeding was the primary activity associated with animals; over 80% of cases and controls were involved in this activity during relevant exposure months, followed by milking (63%, 44%) among those working with dairy cows and herding (81%, 61%) among beef cattle workers. Elevated risk of dairy cattle–related injury was associated with milking (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0–6.6) whereas beef cattle–related injuries were associated with calving (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 2.1–8.6) and footwork (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0–4.9). Among youths working with animals, explicit activities can be identified that are associated with animal-specific injuries. The identification of relevant hazardous tasks is necessary for the development of effective prevention measures.     

Agricultural Injuries and Illnesses in Texas

SUMMARY

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program and the Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, which are conducted by states in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, can provide some useful prevalence and case characteristic data for states that do not have other comprehensive agricultural injury and illness surveillance programs. In Texas, these programs have been the primary source of surveillance data, despite certain limitations inherent in the programs. CFOI findings for Texas in 1994 indicate a rate of 13 fatal work injuries per 100,000 agricultural workers in Texas, more than twice the rate for all workers in the state. Vehicles and machinery combined accounted for over half of all fatal work injuries in agriculture in the state between 1991 and 1994. Results from the Annual Survey indicate a nonfatal incidence rate of 307 events involving days away from work per 10,000 agricultural workers. Overexertion, falls, and workers struck by objects led all other nonfatal events in the industry in 1993.     

Health Indicators of a Cohort of Midwest Farmers: Health Outcomes of Participants in the Certified Safe Farm Program

Occupational illness, injury, and fatality rates for those working in production agriculture are higher than in any other industry. A potential risk factor contributing to occupational injuries across all industries is acute or chronic co-morbidity (e.g., obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), and related health issues that increase the risk for an occupational injury or illness. These chronic health conditions have been associated not only with increased risk for injuries, but also higher health-care costs, and greater absenteeism. Certified Safe Farm (CSF) is a comprehensive intervention program aimed to reduce occupational health and safety hazards and to promote general health among farmers. Prior publications have described CSF program efforts to reduce hazardous exposures, disabling injuries, organic dust toxic syndrome, occupational health-care costs, and to increase positive occupational health behaviors. This paper reports on the general health indicators of a cohort of 438 Iowa farm owner/operators enrolled in the CSF program. Overall, this study found that the farming population in Iowa has higher body mass index (BMI), but lower total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and lower prevalence of hypertension compared to the general population. There was evidence that the combination of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI were related to increased injury rates. Poor self-reported health status was also related to increased injuries but was not related to clinical health indicators. The CSF intervention led to improvements on health outcomes, particularly among those in the 35 to 49 age group. Little research has focused on the individual’s general health status as a predictor of risk of occupational injury. This study suggests the need for additional research and interventions integrating occupational safety and health prevention along with health promotion.     

宁夏南部山区农村居民农业伤害经济负担研究

目的估计宁夏南部山区农村居民农业伤害经济负担,阐明农业伤害对社会经济和家庭的危害性,为政府相关部门决策提供依据。方法采用多阶段随机抽样方法抽取西吉、海原、同心三个县44个乡146个村2118户家庭居民中的4611名农村居民作为调查对象。结果本次4611名调查对象中,2010年1月1日-2011年12月30日发生农业伤害的有419名,直接经济负担总额为482980元,间接经济负担总额为88904.79元。在不同的农业伤害种类中,直接经济负担总额和医疗费用总额居于前四位的均是机动车伤、跌倒/坠落伤、刀/锐器伤和扭伤/拉伤。结论农业伤害给宁夏南部山区农村居民及其家庭造成了较大的经济负担,应加强对重点人群的健康教育和干预。     

Prospective Analysis of Factors Associated with Work Reentry in Patients with Accident-Related Injuries

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of accidents, the physical and psychological consequences, the patient’s predisposition as well as work-related cognitions on return to work (RTW) post accident. Despite the costs of time-off from work after accidental injuries, very few investigations have been carried out so far. Method: In a consecutive sample, 163 patients were investigated directly and 12 months after an accident. Results: 32% of the patients had a poor occupational integration 12 months after an accident. As predictors for return to work were found type of prior work: laborer (OR=4.34; 1.79–10.50 CI 95%), type of accident: recreational (OR=0.27; 0.11–0.69 CI 95%) and subjective perception of the accident severity (OR=0.98; 0.96–0.99 CI 95%). Conclusion: Laborers after a traffic or work accident, who estimate the accident as severe, are at greater risk of developping long-term disability. Future efforts should be conducted especially for this target group. Corinna Lange and Markus Burgmer contributed equally to the present work and should therefore both be considered as first authors.     

Fertility and exposure to solvents among families in the Agricultural Health Study

Background

Several studies have reported associations between solvent exposure and reduced female fertility, but the evidence is inconclusive for male fertility.

Objectives

To investigate the impact of solvent exposure on subfertility among families of male licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study cohort.

Methods

The couples enrolled between 1993 and 1997. Cross‐sectional questionnaire information on work tasks was used to assess exposure to solvents. The data were limited to couples (wife aged less than 40 years) with an attempt at pregnancy in the last four years (n = 2112).

Results

Twenty eight per cent of the couples were defined as subfertile (not conceiving a pregnancy after at least 12 months of unprotected intercourse, regardless of whether or not a pregnancy ultimately occurred). Adjusted subfertility odds ratios (OR) for exposure to solvents were calculated with logistic regression. Female (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.75) and male exposure to solvents (OR 1.21 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.57) for monthly exposure and 1.40 (95% CI 0.97 to 2.03) for daily or weekly exposure) were associated with subfertility. In farming, spouses may share or exchange jobs. To account for potential dual exposure, variables for parental exposure (either parent exposed or both parents exposed) were also defined. Both were strongly associated with subfertility (OR 1.62 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.17) and OR 2.10 (95% CI 1.22 to 3.60), respectively).

Conclusions

Solvents may impair fertility of either gender, though the evidence for female effects is stronger than for male effects.     

Occupational Injuries in Ghana

Abstract

Household interviews were used to survey 21,105 persons living in 431 urban and rural sites in Ghana, to determine the nature and extent of their occupational injuries. Annual occupational injury rates were 11.5 injuries/1,000 persons in the urban areas and 44.9/1,000 in the rural areas. Occupational injuries had higher mortality, longer disability, and higher treatment costs than non-occupational injuries. There were substantial occupational injury rates among children, especially in rural areas. In the urban areas, the largest numbers of injuries were to drivers (12.7% of urban occupational injuries) and traders (19.4%), most of which were road-traffic-related. In the rural areas, most injuries (71.6%) were to farm workers. Occupational injuries are a substantial burden in Ghana. Priorities include improving road safety and improving the prevention and treatment of injuries from nonmechanized farming.     

Occupational exposure to carbofuran and the incidence of cancer in the Agricultural Health Study

Carbofuran is a carbamate insecticide registered for use on a variety of food crops including corn, alfalfa, rice, and tobacco. An estimated 5 million pounds of carbofuran is used annually in the United States, and 45% of urban African-American women have detectable levels of carbofuran in their plasma. Nitrosated carbofuran has demonstrated mutagenic properties. We examined exposure to carbofuran and several tumor sites among 49,877 licensed pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study. We obtained information regarding years of use, frequency of use in an average year, and when use began for 22 pesticides using self-administered questionnaires. Poisson regression was used to calculate rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for potential confounders. Lung cancer risk was 3-fold higher for those with > 109 days of lifetime exposure to carbofuran (RR = 3.05; 95% CI, 0.94-9.87) compared with those with < 9 lifetime exposure days, with a significant dose-response trend for both days of use per year and total years of use. However, carbofuran use was not associated with lung cancer risk when nonexposed persons were used as the referent. In addition, carbofuran exposure was not associated with any other cancer site examined. Although carbamate pesticides are suspected human carcinogens, these results should be interpreted cautiously because there was no a priori hypothesis specifically linking carbofuran to lung cancer.     

化学杀虫剂的眼刺激性试验研究

目的研究分析有机磷等杀虫剂的急性眼刺激性。方法分别取受试物0．1ml滴眼,于给药后1、24、48、72h和4、7、14、21d观察兔眼部刺激症状,依据GB15670—1995（农药登记毒理学试验方法》对眼损伤进行评分及分级。结果232个不同类型杀虫剂,除沙蚕毒素类为无刺激性外,70％以上杀虫剂样品对兔眼有不同程度刺激性;其中53％样品为中度以上刺激性,26％样品引起的眼刺激性症状观察至21d仍未恢复。结论多数化学杀虫剂对兔眼有不同程度刺激性,杀虫剂为乳油时刺激性最重,为水剂、可湿性粉剂、悬浮剂时刺激性轻。     

Health and Safety in Organic Farming: A Qualitative Study

Objective: To explore health and safety issues in organic farming, particularly among small farmers in central New Mexico. Methods: Participants included 10 certified organic producers and 20 workers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. Results: The sample consisted of a young, educated, low experienced population that may differ from conventional farmers. Both producers and workers seemed to be aware of the health risks involved with small-scale farming. Producers presented mixed attitudes toward health and safety, while the attitudes of workers were more systematically negative. Perception of risk was generally lower among workers compared to producers. Although health and safety training was not specifically mentioned, most participants seemed to understand the relevance of the work environment for health and safety. Regarding ergonomics, the physical demands of working for long hours and the necessity to perform a multitude of tasks that contribute to physical stress were issues of concern. Conclusions: This is one of the few studies in the United States exploring health and safety among organic farmers. Although participants reported very few actual incidents, the study identified relevant intrapersonal and behavioral factors that may increase or reduce the risk for disease and injury. Results also indicate the need for research that focuses on the psychosocial and contextual factors that may contribute to injury and disease among organic farmers.     

Risk Factors for Machinery-related Injury among Iowa Farmers: A Case-Control Study Nested in the Agricultural Health Study

Abstract

Farm machinery is a major cause of injury morbidity and mortality among farmers. This case-control study assessed risk factors for machinery-related injuries among Iowa farmers. A screener questionnaire sent to 6,999 farmers in 1998 identified 205 farmers who had machinery-related injuries requiring medical advice/treatment in the previous year. Possible risk factors for injury were assessed among these farmers compared with 473 farmers with no injury in the previous year. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between machinery-related injury and hours per week spent on farmwork (OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.38–2.94), fewer years of farming experience (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.14–2.79), wearing a hearing aid (OR = 4.37; 95% CI 1.55–12.25), and a high CAGE score suggesting problem drinking (OR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.00–6.19). This is the first study to show associations between machinery-related injury and hearing impairment, problem drinking, and fewer years of farming experience. These findings may be useful for future interventions to decrease injuries related to farm machinery.     

Eye Health and Safety Among Latino Farmworkers

ABSTRACT

Farmworkers face a variety of risk factors for eye injuries. Measures of eye protection use and of eye safety knowledge and beliefs are based on a survey of 300 Latino farmworkers in North Carolina. Few farmworkers report using eye protection (8.3%); most (92.3%) report that employers do not provide eye protection. Approximately 70% report that they are not trained in preventing eye injuries; 81% believe that their chances of getting an eye injury are low. Many farmworkers choose to take risks in order to save time. Interventions are needed that target farmworker knowledge and beliefs about eye safety.     

Feasibility Study of Inspection of Farm Machinery Safety Features

Agriculture continues to be a very hazardous industry. One of the possible risk factors injuries may be the absence of safety features on farm machinery. A feasibility study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of obtaining information on deficiencies or absence of safety devices. Tractors and Power take-off (PTO) driven machines on 36 dairy farms were inspected. The pilot study was well received by farmers. The absence of rollover protective structures (ROPS (and PTO shields appeared related to the age of machine. Since the sample was a convenience sample consisting only of dairy farms, no substantial inferences from such a pilot study should be drawn. It did appear, however, that such a project was readily accepted, and that older machinery more often possessed deficient or missing safety devices.