Fact Sheet
September, 1996 - No. 2F Childhood Agricultural Injury
Population at Risk
The 1992 Census of Agriculture reported a total of 1.93 million
farms in the United States.1 In 1991, there were 923,000 children
under 15 years of age and 346,000 children 15-19 years of
age residing on U.S. farms and ranches.2
The National Agricultural Workers Survey data of 1989 estimated
there were 587,000 children of migrant workers age 21 or younger
involved in seasonal agricultural services in the United States.
Of these children, 65% travel with their parents but do not
do farm work; 6% travel and participate in farm work; another
29% travel on their own to do farm work.3
Studies have shown that from one-third to one-half of nonfatal
childhood agricultural injuries occur to children who do not
live on farms.4,5
Toll of Unintentional Injury
There are an estimated 300 deaths to children younger than
20 years of age on U.S. farms and ranches each year.6
An estimated 27,000 children under the age of 20 years who
live on farms and ranches are injured each year.7 This figure
does not include children who visit or work on non-family
farms.
A study of agricultural injuries in children in central Wisconsin
revealed an overall incidence rate of 18.3 injuries per 1,000
farm resident children. Injury rates were highest among males
14-17 years at 27.2/1,000 farm resident children.8
The annual societal cost of childhood deaths and injuries
on farms and ranches is around 3 billion dollars. This total
includes direct medical costs, value of lost future earnings,
and quality of life.5
Characteristics of Injured Children
Data from the Traumatic Injury Surveillance of Farmers Survey
revealed that of the 12,873 occupational injuries among farm
workers ages 10 to 19 years, 89.2% were to males. Analysis
by race revealed 92.2% were white, 6.3% were Hispanic, and
1.5% were American Indian. Further analysis showed that 3.2%
of the injuries resulted in permanent disability.9
A review of childhood agricultural fatalities in Indiana and
Wisconsin over a 21 year period revealed that 93.3% of victims
were males.10
In both the United States and in Canada, children younger
than 16 years of age comprise up to 20% of all farm fatalities.
Peak ages for agricultural trauma include early toddler years
through 4 years of age and middle adolescence. After the toddler
age, males consistently experience a greater rate of injuries
than females.11
Causes of Agricultural Injury
A study of 460 Wisconsin and Indiana childhood farm fatalities
found that 50% were associated with tractors.10
Among all working 16- and 17-year olds in the U.S. during
the years 1980-1989, machine-related deaths were the second
highest cause of occupational fatalities. Tractors alone accounted
for 44% of these machine-related deaths.12
Nonfatal farm injuries are often associated with livestock,
falls, small tools, building structures, and moving machinery
parts.13
Prevention Options
A multifaceted injury prevention approach, including stronger
links between federal leadership and health care providers
combined with legislation and education of farmers, is necessary
to reduce agricultural disease and injury conditions.14,15
Farm families are willing to allow their own children to engage
in high-risk farming activities at an earlier age than they
would recommend for other children.16
After reviewing 24 fatal and 259 (hospitalized) agricultural
machinery injuries to children, researchers recommended four
prevention measures:
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. More
