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BACKGROUND: Since 1998, non-fatal work injury rates for workers less than 20 years old on farms have decreased over 50%. However, changes in occupational fatality rates for these workers have not been assessed recently. This study examines trends in occupational fatalities to workers less than 20 years old on farms for the years 2003 through 2012, with comparisons to fatality rates for young workers overall.
METHODS: Occupational fatality data were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries public data site for the years 2003-2012. Fatality counts for workers less than 20 years old were subset for all young workers and workers on farms. Farming deaths were further divided into those on crop and animal farms. Employment data for young workers were obtained from the BLS Current Population Survey. Trends in fatality rates were assessed using Poisson regression.
RESULTS: Between 2003-3012, 1,060 workers less than 20 years old died at work overall. Young workers on farms accounted for 21% of these deaths with more than half of these farming fatalities occurring on crop farms (153 deaths). The annual fatality rate for all young farm workers was 8.6 times the annual rate for all young workers (28.5 deaths/100,000 full-time workers and 3.3 deaths/100,000 full-time workers respectively). The highest annual fatality rate was for young workers on crop farms (42.0/100,000 full-time workers). Between 2003 and 2012, fatality rates decreased significantly for young workers on crop farms (approximately 5%/year). No significant trends were found in fatality rates for young workers overall, on animal farms, or on farms overall.
CONCLUSIONS: Recent declines reported for nonfatal occupational injury rates for farm workers less than 20 years old were not seen in the overall farming fatality rates for these same workers. Only fatality rates for young workers on crop farms showed a significant decline, but remain unacceptably high. Prevention efforts need to focus on the known causes of these young worker farming-related deaths. Findings point to the continued risk faced by young workers on farms. In addition, injury prevention activities that influence decreases in nonfatal injury do not always translate into decreases in fatal injuries.