Chapter 3 • Focus on Agriculture
More than 3.1 million workers were employed in the agriculture, forestry,
and fishing industry during 2001 (Table 1–4 in Chapter 1). Compared
with all industries, agriculture employed proportionately more workers
aged 16–19 (7.2% versus 5.1% for all industries) and workers
aged 55 and older (22.9% versus 13.6% for all industries) [BLS 2001b].
In 2001, agricultural workers were predominately male (72.4%) (Table
1–4
in Chapter 1) and white (94.4%) (BLS [BLS 2001a]).
Advances in science and technology have greatly improved the safety
of agricultural production in recent years. Nevertheless, fatal occupational
injury rates in the agricultural sector, though decreasing, averaged
more than four times the rate for the private sector during 1992–2002
(Figure 3–2) and were disproportionately high for older workers
(Figure 3–3). Rates for nonfatal occupational injuries also declined,
from 11.7 per 100 full-time workers in 1981 to 7.0 in 2001 (Figure 3–14).
Although important strides have been made in reducing the risk of all
occupational injuries, agricultural production remains one of the most
hazardous industrial sectors.
Fatal Agricultural Injuries
This section provides data for answering basic questions about fatal
injuries among workers and youths exposed to agricultural hazards. The
agriculture industry as discussed in this section includes the following
types of operations: farming, agricultural services, forestry, commercial
fishing, and commercial hunting. On-farm deaths among youths in this
section include both occupational and nonoccupational fatalities, and
they exclude those involving motor vehicles and intentional causes.
Data for the figures come from three sources: (1) the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) Surveillance
System, which is a multisource census of fatal occupational injuries
occurring in the United States; (2) the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities
(NTOF) Surveillance System, which is a census of fatal occupational
injuries for persons aged 16 or older as identified by death certificates
in the United States; and (3) the National Center for Health Statistics
(NCHS) Vital Statistics Mortality Surveillance System, which is a census
of all death certificates filed in the United States.
Fatal injuries constitute a significant burden on the agricultural
sector, as indicated by the annual average of 806 fatal occupational
injuries that occurred during 1992–2002 (Figure 3–1). Fatal
occupational injury rates for this period ranged 26.5 per 100,000 employed
workers in 1993 to 21.3 in 2000 (Figure 3–2). Rates by age ranged
from 13.7 per 100,000 for the youngest agricultural workers to 62.0
for the oldest group (Figure 3–3). Most cases of fatal occupational
injuries in agriculture involved white workers (93%) (Figure 3–4).
Non-Hispanic workers accounted for higher rates than Hispanic workers
(20.2 versus 15.8 fatalities per 100,000 employed workers) (Figure 3–5).
Farm tractors were the leading source of fatal occupational injuries
in agriculture during 1992–2001, but trucks and fishing boats
were also major sources (Figure 3–6). Leading causes listed on
death certificates included machinery, motor vehicles, and falls (Figure
3–7). The highest number of fatal occupational injuries in agriculture,
forestry, and fishing occurred in California, followed by Texas, Florida,
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee (Figure 3–8). Surveys confirm
that the farming environment presents risks to youths living or working
on farms. During 1982–1996, an annual average of 145 on-farm deaths
occurred among youths under age 20 (Figure 3–10). The major causes
of unintentional on-farm deaths among youths were machinery, drowning,
and firearms (Figure 3–11). Texas reported the highest number
of on-farm deaths among youths under age 20, and Pennsylvania, Iowa,
Missouri, and Wisconsin reported the next highest numbers (Figure 3–12).
Magnitude and Trend
How did the number of fatal occupational injuries in agriculture,
forestry, and fishing compare with the number in the private sector
during 1992–2002?
How did the annual rates of fatal occupational injury in agriculture,
forestry, and fishing compare with the rates in the private sector during
1992–2002?
Age
How did fatal occupational injury rates in agriculture, forestry,
and fishing compare with the private sector by age of worker during
1992–2001?
Race/Ethnicity
How did the number and rate of fatal occupational injuries differ
by race in agriculture, forestry, and fishing during 1992–2001?
How did fatal occupational injury rates differ between Hispanic and
non-Hispanic workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing during 1992–2001?
Sources and Causes of Death
What were the leading sources of fatal occupational injuries in agriculture,
forestry, and fishing during 1992–2001?
What did death certificates show to be the leading causes of fatal
occupational injuries in agriculture, forestry, and fishing during 1992–1997?
Numbers and Rates among States
How did the number of fatal occupational injuries in agriculture,
forestry, and fishing differ by State during 1992–2000?
How did the rates of fatal occupational injury in agriculture, forestry,
and fishing differ by State during 1992–2000?
Youths
Age
How were unintentional on-farm deaths distributed by age among youths
during 1992–1996?
Causes of Death
What were the major causes of unintentional on-farm death for youths
during 1982–1996?
Numbers among States
How were unintentional on-farm deaths of youths distributed by State
during 1982–1996?
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