Jack L. Runyan
U.S. Department of Agriculture
As this
report indicates, additional research is needed on questions
of farm safety. Some of the more readily apparent needs are
discussed below.
National
data sources do not sufficiently identify the number of farm
accidents or describe their sources, causes, severity, and
effects. Some of the reasons given for the shortcomings of
national data are lack of scientific sampling techniques,
focus on farms employing 11 or more people, and the limited
amount of information provided by many of the methods of data
collection.
Efforts
are now underway to improve sampling techniques. The Modified
Total Design Method will improve survey methodology. However,
a scientifically selected sample population at risk will be
required before meaningful data can be obtained. Multimethod
approaches like the ones being done to prepare the Census
of Fatal Occupational Injuries make up another
attempt to improve the quality of national data. Finally,
the Census of Agriculture will present accident
da a based on a national sample of farms.
Accurately
assessing farm safety issues will require data on more than
descriptive variables. First, the population at risk must
be accurately identified. Little is known about the size of
the U.S. farm workforce. Second, injury surveillance must
provide "time of event, place of occurrence, demographic characteristics
of the injured person, characteristics of the injury, agent
causing the event, source of the event, mechanism of the event,
circumstances surrounding the injury event, medical health
care provided to the injured person, and health outcome of
the event" (Gerberich and others, 1991, p. 165). Third, in
addition to the above information about the victim and event,
information on the characteristics of the farm, including
the size, type, and location of the farm and the number of
people who work there is required.
Finally,
researchers are beginning to evaluate the chronic effects
of long-term exposure to pesticides and other farm chemicals.
Additional research in this area is needed. Other areas of
neglected research concerning chemical, biological, physical,
and environmental hazards are specifically identified in the
comprehensive reports by the Public Health Service in this
country and by the University of Saskatchewan (Centre for
Agricultural Medicine, 1992; and U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, 1991b).
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
document was extracted from Bibliographies and Literature
of Agriculture, No. 125, a series of the United States Department
of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 1301 New York Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20005-4788. Publication date: October 1993.
Jack
L. Runyan, Agriculture and Rural Economy Division, Economic
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1301 New
York Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20005-4788.
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