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Youth on U.S. Farm Operations

• Agriculture continues to rank as one of the most hazardous industries.
• Youth are exposed to hazards while living, working on, or visiting farms.
• In 2001, there were approximately 1.9 million farms in the U.S., with an estimated 1,075,759 youth living in these farm households.
• Between 1995 and 2000, the annual injury fatality rate for youth on farm operations was 9.3 fatalities per 100,000 youth.
• In 2001, the non-fatal injury rate for youth who reside on or are hired to work on U.S. farms was 1,270 injuries per 100,000 farm youth.

Household Youth on U.S. Farm Operations, 2001

Household farm youth comprise all youth 0-19 years of age who live on U.S. farms and include working and non-working youth.

An estimated 1,075,759 youth lived on U.S. farm operations in 2001:

• 16,851 were injured (16 injuries per 1,000 household youth)
• 10-15 year olds had the highest injury rate (21 injuries per 1,000 household youth)
• 5,807 injuries occurred while working on the farm (10 injuries per 1,000 working household youth)
• 10-15 year olds experienced the highest rate of injury while doing farm work (11 injuries per 1,000 household youth)

Non-Fatal Injuries: Household Youth on U.S. Farm Operations, 2001

The most common sources for the 16,851 non-fatal injuries to household youth on U.S. farm operations were:

• Floors, walkways, ground (27%)
• Person, animals, plants, minerals (22%)
• Vehicles (18%)

The most common types of injury were:

• Broken bone, fracture (32%)
• Cut, laceration (17%)
• Bruise, contusion (10%)

The body parts most commonly injured were:

• Arm (16%)
• Hand, wrist, fingers (16%)
• Foot, ankle, toes (16%)
• Head, skull (13%)
• Leg (10%)

Fatal Injuries Among Youth on U.S. Farm Operations, 1995-2000

• The majority of deaths to youth on farm operations were due to machinery (25%), motor vehicles (17%), and drowning (16%).
• An estimated 695 youth died on US farms and most fatalities occurred to youth 16-19 years of age.

Farm Youth Safety Recommendations

Remember to...

• Inspect your farm for potential hazards to children.
• Provide young children a safe play area away from hazards such as livestock, structures, farm machinery and vehicles.
• Make sure that farm chores assigned to youth are appropriate for their age and abilities.
• Be a good role model for farm safety.
• Consider outside childcare during busy farm seasons.
• Make sure all dangerous areas are clearly marked with hazard signs.
• Keep toxic substances in their original containers and lock them up safely.
• Devote a day to FARM SAFETY.

Safety Tips about Youth and Machines

• Follow the “one seat—one rider” rule. Do not allow extra riders on tractors, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other farm equipment.
• Follow manufacturers’ recommendations for age restrictions when operating machinery and equipment (e.g., most manufacturers and safety experts recommend that youth younger than 16 not operate ATVs or machinery unless they have received formal training and are closely supervised).
• Once youth reach an appropriate age, teach them how to operate ATVs and machinery properly. Encourage youth to take safety training courses.
• Leave buckets or forks on loaders and tractors in the down position when not in use.
• Keep vehicles and machinery properly maintained at all times.
• When parked, self-propelled machinery should be locked and keys removed from the ignition.

Safety Tips about Youth and Animals

• Teach youth how to handle and work with animals safely.
• Make sure children have no contact with farm animals that are aggressive, sick, are mothers of newborns, or breeding male animals (bulls, boars, rams, etc.).
• Make sure children wear proper protective clothing when handling animals.
• Provide shots and proper health checks for all household pets.

Safety Tips about Youth and Water

• Children should always be supervised when playing in or near water.
• Restrict access to ponds, lagoons, pools, manure pits, etc.; fence these areas if possible.
• Empty or cover containers with standing water in areas where toddlers are present.
• Make sure wells are securely closed, or filled in if no longer in use.
• Install water safety and rescue equipment at all farm ponds.
• Teach children to swim at an early age.
• Be aware that alcohol can contribute to teen drowning on farms.

Need More Information?

National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Safety and Health
1000 North Oak Avenue
Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449
Telephone: 1-888-924-SAFE (7233)
http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/children

North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT)
Telephone: 1-888-924-SAFE (7233)
http://www.nagcat.org

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
P.O. Box 458
Earlham, Iowa 50072
Telephone: 1-800-423-5437; 515-758-2827
http://www.fs4jk.org

INSURE KIDS NOW!

Your state, and every state in the nation, has a health insurance program for infants, children, and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families. To learn more, make a free call to find your state’s program.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Telephone: 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669)
http://www.insurekidsnow.gov

Copies of other NIOSH documents on occupational safety and health are available from:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Information Division (EID)
4676 Columbia Parkway M/S C-13
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226-1998
Telephone: (800) 35-NIOSH [(800-356-4674)]
Fax: (513) 533-8573
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/email-pubs.html

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2004-172
December 2004
Injuries Among Youth on Farms, 2001

Visit the NIOSH Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health