New Report Released On Occupational Injuries On Hispanic-Operated Farms

According to a new release by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board and the USDA, in 2003, there were an estimated 47,501 Hispanic operated farms. On these farms there were 1,662 total occupational injuries to adults 20 years of age and older at a rate of 3.5 injuries per 100 farms.

In 2008, while the number of Hispanic-owned farms grew to 53,055, the number of injuries and rate decreased to 1,222 injuries with a rate of 2.3 per 100 farms.

The findings are based on a telephone survey of Hispanic operated farms conducted by NASS for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Farm operators were asked questions about injuries to adults 20 years of age and older working on their farms in 2003 and 2008. An injury was defined as any condition occurring on the farm operation resulting in at least four hours of restricted activity or requiring professional medical attention.

Approximately 75% of injuries on Hispanic-operated farms occurred to males. In 2003, 1,246 agricultural-related work injuries occurred to males, while 945 injuries were to males in 2008. In 2003, adults 55 years of age or older incurred 26% of all injuries (411 injuries).

In 2008, adults 55 years of age and older were the injured party in 51% of all injury events (581 injuries). Individuals under the age of 35 years incurred less than 16% of all injuries to adults on Hispanic operated farms in 2008 and 22% in 2003.

The majority of injuries in both years happened to adults who lived on the farm. In 2003, household adults accounted for 68% of all work-related injuries, while in 2008 household adults accounted for almost 77% of these injuries.

In 2003, household adults were injured at a rate of 9.7 injuries per 1,000 household adults (990 total injuries). Of these injuries in 2003, 35% were to adults 45 to 54 years of age, with 32% occurring to people 55 years of age and older.

In 2008, the rate of injury for household adults was 9.4 injuries per 1,000 household adults (871 total injuries). The age distribution for the injuries to household adults in 2008 was 29% to adults 45 to 54 years of age, with 54% occurring to people 55 years of age and older.

NIOSH sponsored this survey to better understand the magnitude and scope of working agricultural-related injuries to adults. The survey was conducted as part of the NIOSH Occupational Injury Surveillance of Production Agriculture Survey.