Agriculturally-related Accidents in Maryland in 1974 and Their Relationship to Selected Variables

AUTHOR ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between selected variables and agriculturally-related accidents in the State of Maryland during 1974.

Information was obtained by using the revised form of the National Safety Council "Form for Reporting Farm Accident Data." The data were recorded according to a standardized coding system. The data in this study were obtained through the cooperation of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension Service, Maryland Farm Bureau Women's Committee, Maryland Agricultural Safety and Health Federation and the National Safety Council.

The population of this study included all farms in the 23 counties of Maryland. A 10 percent sample from this population was selected. Farms were included in the sample only if the heads of households agreed to cooperate. Location of the farms in a county was determined by a stratified sampling of areas within the county.

Chi square statistic was used to determine the relationship between certain variables. Actual levels of significance greater than above the .050 level were reported.

There was a chi square significant at .050 when the relationship between number of years on the farm and the person who administered first aid to the injured person were crosstabulated.

When the number of family members at home was crosstabulated with the age of individuals injured, a chi square significant at .020 resulted.

When the number of hours per week devoted to farm work and regions of the body were crosstabulated, a chi square significant at .020 resulted.

When the years attended school was crosstabulated with time of year of accident a chi square significant at .050 resulted.

When the years attended school and age of injured was crosstabulated a chi square significant at .004 resulted.

When the hours per week devoted to farm work and age of injured was crosstabulated a chi square significant at .004 resulted.

When years on farm and age of injured was crosstabulated, a chi square probability of .000 resulted. On the basis of age, the Low-26 year age group was involved in the highest proportion of accidents. The 50-Hi age group was involved in the next highest proportion and the 27-49 year age group had the lowest proportion of accidents. On the basis of years on the farm, the 32-49 year group were involved in the highest proportion of accidents. The 48-Hi group was involved in the next highest proportion and the Low-31 years on farm group was involved in the lowest proportion of accidents.

A two-sample t-test was used to determine if there was a difference between selected demographic factors of farms that had accidents in the years 1974 and farms that did not have accidents.

Results of the t-test indicated differences at the .050 level of significance or less in the following factors: 1) acreage under cultivation, 2) average hours devoted to farm work, 3) number of male family members who live/work on farm, 4) number of female family members who live/work on farm, 5) number of 8 hour days spent at farm work by males of the family, 6) number of hired males who live/work on farm, 7) number of 8 hour days spent at farm work by hired males.

A regression analysis showed that 18% of the variability in severity of accidents was explained by number of persons involved, time victim was with thing involved, and years in school.

Results of this study suggest the need for further research to identify variables that can be used as a basis in reducing agriculturally-related accidents.

SOURCE AND NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE ID#

SOURCE: University of Maryland; 1979. 194.

NLOM ID#: No ID#.