Farm equipment injuries in a rural county, 1980 through 1985: The emergency department as a source of data for prevention

doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(89)80012-5

Annals of Emergency Medicine

Volume 18, Issue 7, July 1989, Pages 758-762

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-0644(89)80012-5 Get rights and content

Incidence rates of injury related to farm machinery were estimated for Athens County, Ohio, using data generated as part of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The study period was 1980 through 1985. The service area of the principal hospital in the county, which participates in NEISS, closely approximates the population of the county. The population of the entire county and the rural farm population, based on US Census data, were used as denominators in calculation of rates. There were 147 injuries related to farm machinery over a six-year period, 14 of which were coded as occupational. One hundred twelve (84.2%) of these injury victims were men. The annual incidence rate per 1,000 rural farm resident population was 25.6 per 1,000 for children under the age of 14 years and was 55.6 per 1,000 for adults age 25 to 34 years. Annual rates for adults age 35 and up ranged from 13 to 19 per 1,000 rural farm residents. The annual number of tractor rollover injuries decreased during this study period, while the annual numbers of other tractor injuries did not change. Hospital emergency department visits can be used to document the need for and to evaluate injury prevention measures.

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Although it is known that farm machinery is a source of serious and catastrophic farm work-related injuries, little is known about the magnitude of, and potential risk factors for, this problem. The study population is from the five-state Regional Rural Injury Study—I (RRIS—I) that included 3 939 farm households and 13 144 persons who were interviewed about their injury experience and farming operation-related exposures during 1990. Rates were calculated for sociodemographic variables and various exposures pertinent to large farm machinery (excluding tractors). Multivariate analyses were conducted using logistic regression, based on a model developed a priori and further confirmed using backward stepwise logistic regression. Among the total farming-related injury events (n=764), 151 (20%) were related to large machinery use (1 127 injured persons per 100 000 persons per year). Through multivariate analyses, several variables were associated with elevated rate ratios that were important in both models: hours worked per week on the farm (40–59, 60–79, 80+); operation of an auger; field crops as the enterprise requiring the most time; and male gender. In addition, in the backward stepwise model, certain marital status categories (married; separated/widowed/divorced) were also associated with elevated rate ratios that were important. The majority of injury events occurred while persons were lifting, pushing, or pulling (21%), adjusting a machine (20%), or repairing a machine (17%). While only 5% of the cases were hospitalized, 79% required some type of health care. Among all injured persons, 34% were restricted from regular activities for 1 week or more and 19% were restricted for 1 month or more; 25% continued to have persistent problems. In summary, the RRIS—I permitted one of the most comprehensive studies of agricultural machinery-related injuries, to date. The findings indicate that these injuries represent a significant problem, based on the relevant rates, potential risk factors, and consequences from trauma.
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: This work was supported in part by a grant from the Ohio University Research Committee.

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Original contributionFarm equipment injuries in a rural county, 1980 through 1985: The emergency department as a source of data for prevention

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the United States by Industry, 1985

Northeastern Ohio Trauma Study: I. Magnitude of the problem

Am J Public Health

Northeastern Ohio Trauma Study: II. Injury rates by age, sex and cause

Am J Public Health

Childhood accidents in a rural community: A five-year study

J Fam Pract

Accidental injuries to children and youths in rural Florida

J Fam Pract

A practice based study of trauma in a rural community

J Fam Pract

Original contribution
Farm equipment injuries in a rural county, 1980 through 1985: The emergency department as a source of data for prevention