Severe farm injuries among New York farmers

Data from the telephone interview portion of the New York State Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance were used to study the incidence and predictors of severe farm injury.

One thousand seven hundred and six participants completed two telephone interviews in which they reported all injuries over a 12-month period.

Nine percent of participants reported at least one severe farm injury. Using logistic regression the significant risk factors for sustaining at least one severe farm injury are younger age, the presence of hearing loss or joint trouble, working more hours per day, being the owner/operator of the farm, and being from a farm with higher gross sales.

There needs to be continuing education of all farmers as to the risks of injury. However, when resources are limited, we recommend that injury education and interventions in this farming population should target younger farmers, those who work longer hours, owner/operators, farmers from higher grossing farms, with special attention to farmers who have physical impairments.