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This summary of occupational injury data in California agriculture was
produced by participants of the AgSafe coalition to increase awareness
and to serve as a focus for new and expanded efforts to prevent injuries.
This pamphlet was published with the support of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources through its cooperative program with the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health on the Berkeley campus.
DATA SOURCES AND NOTES
The data presented in this booklet come mainly from the Employer's Reports of Occupational Injury which are compiled by the California Department of Industrial Relations (Division of Labor Statistics and Research (1981-1990): Work Injuries and Illnesses). These numbers count only "disabling" injuries--those serious enough to require the injured worker or farmer to miss a full day of work beyond the day on which the injury occurred. State Department of Health Services epidemiologists have expressed concern that this data may seriously underestimate the real number of injuries: including those who receive compensation (lost time or medical) from a source other than Worker's Compensation, some part-time or temporary workers, those who were unaware of compensation rights, or those who didn't want to miss a day of work during a busy season.
The average numbers of those workers employed in agriculture come from the California Employment Development Department (EDD Report 127, Jan. 1985 to June 1989; Agricultural Employment, EDD Report 882A, 1987-1989). Injury data used to calculate the injury rates were obtained from the Division of Labor Statistics and Research (1982-1988), Work Injuries and Illnesses, California (Employers First Reports).
AgSafe recognized that the data presented are subject to several types of uncertainty. It is not AgSafe's intent that this publication be interpreted as a detailed analysis of all available epidemiological data. Rather it is a summary of the data available which came primarily form the Worker's Compensation system. This summary is intended to give broad topical guidance to the setting of injury prevention effort priorities in California agriculture.
Injury rates and average number of workers in the major Standard Industrial Categories were calculated for the seven-year time period spanning 1982 to 1988 using the data cited previously. The pie charts, number of work injuries and fatalities were calculated using data for 1981-1990. While these two time periods do not match, the data for rates and agricultural employment figures were collected within the ten year period of the data source utilized to obtain all other figures us this presentation. As such, the rates and employment figures cited should approximate those for the overall ten-year period. These were the most complete data sources at the time of publication and were cited side by side in order to present as much information as possible.
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
Agriculture plays a vital role in our society and our economy; those who work in California agriculture produce the food and fiber upon which we depend. Many people have romantic visions of working and living on the farm, but agriculture is also one of California's most hazardous industries. Every year more than 40 persons working on California farms are killed and almost 20,000 more suffer disabling injuries. In addition, death and injury rates in agriculture have remained consistently high. Such injuries are costly- medical costs, lost workdays, and rehabilitation needs- and also take a toll in human suffering.
Occupational injuries and deaths in agriculture are preventable. We can reverse the epidemic of injuries in California agriculture. We need to educate workers, employers, and communities about the nature and causes of injuries in agriculture and how to prevent them. We need to evaluate techniques used in other industries and determine what works and what does not work. We also need to do more to identify new techniques and methods for reducing injury rates while maintaining agricultural productivity. To be effective, interventions which prevent injuries must be acceptable to those at risk.
Although farm owners, farm workers and farm families are all concerned about health and safety, they frequently lack the information or resources to make changes in work practices or equipment which could prevent injuries. The information in this booklet comes mainly form the Employer's Reports of Occupational Injury compiled by the Department of Industrial Relations in the Supplementary Data System for Work Injuries and Illnesses. While this information is subject to a number of types of uncertainty and may underestimate the true extent of disease and injury occurrence, it does indicate that injuries are a serious problem and points out the types of injuries that are most common in major commodity groupings. Uncertainties notwithstanding, this information does give us cause and direction in beginning the task of reducing occupational injuries and deaths in California agriculture.
| CAUSE OF INJURY - identifies the event which directly resulted in the injury. | |
|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle | injuries caused by highway and non-highway motorized vehicles, tractor overturns or power takeoff |
| Struck | struck by falling or flying object or by moving equipment that is not a motor vehicle. |
| Caught | caught in, or under machinery, or in a landslide or collapsing structure. |
| Fall | from a level or an elevated structure including a motor vehicle or equipment. |
| Abraded | rubbed |
| Overexertion | due to lifting, pulling, pushing, wielding or throwing. |
| Thermal | environmental heat or cold or the handling of hot or cold objects. |
| Bite | animal/insect bite or sting. |
| Toxics | inhalation, ingestion of toxic substances. |
| Animal | fall from. |
| Electrical | electric current. |
| Aircraft | aircraft accident. |
| Explosion/Fire | fire related or struck by flying object from explosion. |
| Other | a cause not listed. |
| TYPE OF INJURY - identifies the principal physical characteristics of the injury. | |
|---|---|
| Burn | due to heat or chemicals. |
| CTS | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| Contusions | includes bites/stings, abrasions, crushing injuries, bruises, and friction burns. |
| Electrocution | includes electric shock. |
| Foreign Body | object in eye or embedded splinter. |
| Laceration | includes cut or puncture. |
| Poisoning | systemic effects due to toxic materials. |
| Radiation | includes sunburn, microwave, x-ray and welder's flash. |
| Sprain/Strain | includes injuries due to overexertion, hernias and ruptures. |
| Sting or Bite | due to animal, insect or human. |
| Temperature extreme | includes heat stroke, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, freezing and frostbite. |
| Other injuries | injuries not listed. |
| Multiple injuries | several injuries of equal severity. |
| Illness | occupationally related. |
These data suggest that an average of 42 fatalities occur among agricultural workers in California each year. Differing figures are available, but the differences are primarily due to the classification of motor vehicle incidents. This figure translates into nearly 10 deaths per 100 thousand persons employed, ranking agriculture the forth among state industries for occupational fatalities. While the agricultural fatality rate is less than that for transportation, mining, and construction, it is almost twice the rate for the next industry, manufacturing. An examination of the numbers makes it clear that motor vehicle safety deserves increased attention in California agriculture.
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AgSafe serves as a forum for information exchange and discussion, and for collaboration. AgSafe is incorporated as a non-profit, educational collaboration and operates under the leadership of an elected board of directors representing the different sectors of interest. AgSafe was established in the fall of 1990 by a group of organizational participants. The statewide AgSafe forum meets bi-monthly in the Sacramento area. This forum is composed largely of organization with interests in statewide policies and programs. To provide for more localized participation, AgSafe supports regional forums and meetings to both inform and to encourage local coalition development.
AgSafe seeks to identify and explore common ground concerns and priorities among the different interests involved in agricultural health and safety and to facilitate collaborative effort on the basis of common priority. Contributing to the reduction of occupational injuries is an identified common priority for the coalition.
AgSafe seeks the reduction of agricultural injury and illness through:
Information on AgSafe is available from:
AgSafe
322 Warren Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720