Youth who reside and work on farms are exposed to potentially dangerous farm hazards more frequently than other youth. Understanding how to create a safe farm environment is important for farm operators and their families.
- Agriculture continues to rank as one of the most hazardous industries
- Youth are exposed to hazards while living, working on, or visiting farms
- In 2000, there were approximately 27,700 farms operated by Hispanics in the United States, with an estimated 18,000 youth living in these farm households
- Between 1995 and 2000, the injury fatality rate for Hispanic youth on farms was 53 fatalities per 100,000 youth
- In 2000, the non-fatal injury rate for all youth who reside on, work on, or visit Hispanic farm operations was 130 injuries per 100,000 youth on the farm
Household youth comprise all youth 0-19 years of age who reside on minority farm operations and include working and non-working youth In 2000, an estimated 18,000 household youth lived on Hispanic farm operations:
- 259 were injured (14 injuries per 1,000 household youth)
- 10-15 year olds had the highest injury rate (17 injuries per 1,000 household youth)
- 114 injuries occurred while working on the farm (14 injuries per 1,000 household youth)
- Youth less than 10 years experienced the highest rate of injury while doing farm work (14 injuries per 1,000 household youth)
The most common sources for the 259 non-fatal injuries to household youth on Hispanic farm operations were:
- Floors, walkways, ground (24%)
- Vehicles (21%)
- Person, animals, plants, minerals (18%)
The most common types of injury were:
- Cut, laceration (24%)
- Broken bone, fracture (19%)
- Bruise, contusion (15%)
The body parts most commonly injured were:
- Leg (17%)
- Hand, wrist, fingers (16%)
- The majority of deaths to youth on Hispanic farm operations were due to drowning (18%) and machinery (10%), and vehicles (7%)
- Between 1995-2000, an estimated 57 Hispanic youth died on farms in the United States and most fatalities occurred to youth 16-19 years of age
- Inspect your farm for potential hazards to children
- Provide young children a safe play area away from hazards such as livestock, structures, farm machinery and vehicles
- Make sure that farm chores assigned to youth are appropriate for their age
- Be a good role model for farm safety
- Consider outside childcare during busy farm seasons
- Make sure all dangerous areas are clearly marked with hazard signs
- Keep toxic substances in their original containers and lock them up safely
- Devote a day to FARM SAFETY instructions and rules
- Follow the “one seat—one rider” rule. Do not allow extra riders on tractors, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other farm equipment
- Follow manufacturers’ recommendations for age restrictions when operating machinery and equipment (e.g., most manufacturers and safety experts recommend that youth less than 16 not operate ATVs or machinery unless they have received formal training and are closely supervised)
- Once youth reach an appropriate age, teach them how to operate ATVs and machinery properly. Encourage youth to take safety training courses.
- Leave buckets or forks on loaders and tractors in the down position when not in use
- Keep vehicles and machinery properly maintained at all times
- When parked, self-propelled machinery should be locked and keys removed from the ignition
- Teach youth how to handle and work with animals safely
- Make sure children have no contact with farm animals that are aggressive, sick, are mothers of newborns, or breeding male animals (bulls, boars, rams, etc.)
- Make sure children wear proper protective clothing when handling animals
- Provide shots and proper health checks for all household pets
- Children should always be supervised when playing in or near water
- Restrict entrance to ponds, lagoons, pools, manure pits, etc.; fence these areas if possible
- Empty or cover containers with standing water in areas where toddlers are present
- Make sure wells are securely closed, or filled if no longer in use
- Install water safety and rescue equipment at all farm ponds
- Teach children to swim at an early age
- Be aware that alcohol can contribute to teen drownings on farms
National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
1000 North Oak Avenue
Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449
Telephone: 1-888-924-SAFE (7233)
http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/nfmc/pages/default.aspx?page=nccrahs_welcome
North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT)
Telephone: 1-888-924-SAFE (7233)
http://www.nagcat.org
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
P.O. Box 458
Earlham, Iowa 50072
Telephone: 1-800-423-5437; 515-758-2827
http://www.fs4jk.org
Your state, and every state in the nation, has a health insurance program for infants, children, and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families. To learn more, make a free call to find your State’s Program.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Telephone: 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669)
http://www.insurekidsnow.gov
Copies of other NIOSH documents on occupational safety and health are available from:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Information Division (EID)
4676 Columbia Parkway M/S C-13
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226-1998
Telephone: (800) 35-NIOSH [(800-356-4674)]
Fax: (513) 533-8573
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2004-157
June 2004
Injuries to Youth on Hispanic Farm Operations
Visit the NIOSH Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Publication #: 2004-157
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in
NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in
NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder.
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