Abstract
Animal-related injuries are an unusual hazard of farming that have received little study. We studied risk factors for animal-related injury as part of a population-based, case-control study of agricultural injuries. Cases were farm residents living in a geographically defined area of central Wisconsin who had injuries associated with farm animals from May 1990 to April 1992 which required medical or chiropractic care. Controls were selected at random from a special census of farm residents in the area. Telephone interviews regarding demographic characteristics, farming practices, and safety behaviors were completed for 70 of 71 cases (98.6%) and 183 of 221 potential controls (82.8%). Based on a multivariable logistic regression model, the only statistically significant risk factor for animal-related farm injury was the number of hours worked per week (3% increased risk per hour). Several farm characteristics were linked with animal-related injury, but the associated 95% confidence limits included 1.0: non-resident workers on the farm (OR=2.20; 95% C.I.: 0.93-5.21), use of all-terrain vehicles for chores (OR=0.47; 95% C.I.: 0.22-1.04), and feeding cows in the barn in summer (OR=0.39; 95% C.I.: 0.15-1.00). Future studies of animal-related farm injury should obtain more specific information on animal husbandry practices.
Full article can be found in: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
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