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235 Farm Operator Injuries in the Central States Region: 2011 Agricultural Injury Surveillance

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Exhibit Hall A (Pasadena Convention Center)
Ketki Patel , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Lina Lander , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Gleb Haynatzki , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Rohan Jadhav , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Risto Rautiainen , College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

BACKGROUND: Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health in collaboration with the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) conducts agricultural injury surveillance annually in the Central States region (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota). This study intends to estimate annual incidence, risk, and cost of injuries among self-employed farm operators and workers in the Central States region.  

METHODS: NASS conducted an injury survey during 2011. A random sample of 7000 farms was drawn from those who responded in the 2007 agriculture census (Ag-census) with 32.8 % response rate. The survey responses were linked with Ag-census data. We calculated the incidence of injury, as well as risk ratios for each farm-level or individual-level parameter. We utilized multiple logistic regression to estimate the effect of predictors on injury occurrence.

RESULTS: Out of 2837 operators (on 2299 farms), the majority were male (2319, 82%), spent more than 50% of their time working on a farm or ranch (1545, 56%), and belonged to annual income group of $50,000 and above. The average sales were $180,400.  Cumulative incidence of injuries among operators was 6.1% (n=172). On average, the direct out-of pocket expense was $1712 and insurance cost was $7723. Ninety nine injuries (58%) required professional medical care, twenty one (12%) resulted in hospitalization, and 117 (68%) injured operators lost work time ranging from less than half a day to 30 days or more. The risk of injuries was higher in operators who had tractors with 40-99 horsepower (RR=1.41, 95% Cl: 0.97- 2.03) and ≥100 horsepower (RR=1.63, 95% Cl: 1.15-2.31) compared to those with tractors <40 horsepower. There were no statistically significant effects of farm size, sales, commodity produced, income group, age and gender on injuries in 2011. After adjusting for age, gender, percent time spent on farm, the risk of injury was 1.92 (95%Cl: 1.04- 3.54) times more likely for those working primarily on a ranch compared to a farm.

CONCLUSIONS: The risk of injury is higher for operators, whose primary occupation is in agriculture, particularly ranching. Substantial direct and indirect costs result from injuries.

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