Farm injuries and fatalities in British Columbia, 1990-2000

Farming is considered to be one of the most dangerous occupations in Canada and internationally, as it often involves work in a high-risk environment due to exposure to such hazards as machinery, large animals and noxious chemicals. The objective of this study was to describe the incidence and nature of farm-related deaths and injuries on British Columbian farms from 1990-2000, with reference to Canadian averages.

British Columbian farm fatalities and farm injury hospitalizations data from Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program for 1990-2000 were analyzed in conjunction with the 1996 and 2001 Canada Census of Agriculture. The incidence and nature of farm injuries were quantified and described for age, gender, cause of injury, primary diagnosis and agent of injury.

There were 82 fatal injuries from 1990-2000 and 1,407 hospitalizations from 1991/92 to 1999/2000. No significant overall incidence trends were found during the study period. The rate of machinery-related injuries requiring hospitalization is lower in BC than in Canada as a whole. The net effect of higher than expected hospitalization rates in younger BC adults (age 20-49) and lower than expected hospitalization rates in older BC adults (age 70+) was a much slower increase in hospitalization rates as farmers get older.

The current data suggest that higher than expected non-machinery-related injuries result in higher hospitalization rates of young adult BC farmers. The potential impact of farm fatalities and injury in youth on loss of productivity and quality of life years emphasizes the need for education and prevention.