• CALIFORNIA IS THE LEADING AGRICULTURAL STATE. California is the number one agricultural state in the country with up to 1 million farmers, farm family members and farmworkers in the state. Many of the health problems in California and other western states agriculture are different from those in the rest of the country.
  
  
• AGRICULTURE IS A HAZARDOUS OCCUPATION.
  • Approximately 1,842,000 full-time workers were employed in production agriculture in the U.S. in 2005.
    
    
  • An estimated 1.26 million children and adolescents under 20 years of age resided on farms in 2004, with about 699,000 of these youth performing work on the farms. In addition to the youth who live on farms, an additional 337,000 children and adolescents were hired to work on U.S. farms in 2004.
    
    
  • On average, 103 children are killed annually on farms (1990-1996). Approximately 40 percent of these deaths were work-related.
    
    
  • In 2004, an estimated 27,600 children and adolescents were injured on farms; 8,100 of these injuries were due to farm work.
    
    
  • In an average year, 516 workers die doing farm work in the U.S. (1992-2005). Of these deaths, 101 are caused by tractor overturns.
    
    
  • Every day, about 243 agricultural workers suffer lost-work-time injuries, and about 5% of these result in permanent impairment.
  
  For more information about Agricultural Safety: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/
  
  
• INJURIES TO YOUTH ON US FARM OPERATIONS, 2004
  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-161/#sec1
  
  
• INJURIES TO YOUTH ON HISPANIC FARM OPERATIONS, 2003
  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-162/ 
  
  
• THE CALIFORNIA FARM LABOR FORCE
  Overview and Trends from the National Agricultural Workers Survey
  
  
• FARM EQUIPMENT CAUSES INJURIES AND DEATHS. Farm vehicles account for approximately half of the fatal farm injuries, and the majority of these deaths are due to tractors. Farm equipment, and specifically tractors, are also the predominant cause of fatal injuries to children in agriculture, accounting for approximately half of the deaths of children. Deaths of children due to machinery were 80 times more likely to occur in a farm setting.
  
  
• HEALTH POLICY FACT SHEETS
  
  
  • Agricultural Workers of California
    
  
  
  • Demographic Profile of Mexican Immigrants in the United States
    
  
  
  • Occupational Safety and Health
    
  
  
  • Diabetes in the U.S. Latino Population
    
  
  
  • Mental Health
    
  
  
  • Health Service Disparities Among Mexican Immigrants
  
  
  
• ERGONOMIC FACTORS. Many characteristics of farm work are typical for ergonomic factors associated with an increased risk for musculoskeletal trauma and degenerative disorders. Poor ergonomic design is associated with increased traumatic injury, which is well established in agriculture.
  
  
  • Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Injuries in Agriculture (pdf)
    
  
  
  • Occupational Agricultural Injury Surveillance in California (pdf)
  
  
  
  
• STRESS. The numerous sources of stress on the contemporary farm including financial uncertainty and losses, intense time pressure, drought and other natural disasters, intergenerational conflicts, and health and safety concerns.
  
  
• NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY (NHIS)
  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhis/released200712.htm

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