Perspective on Farm Accident Statistics*

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The frequently cited statistics on farm accidents are based on definitions of farms accidents and on sources of data that exclude some events that could be called farm accidents and that represent only some of all the defensible perspectives on health risks in farming. As a contribution to exploring alternative perspectives on farm accident statistics, mailed surveys of 2,016 Iowa farm operators provided information on accidental injuries in their farm operations during the year preceding the survey. The majority of injuries were home treated, and hence were not events that would be reflected in accident statistics based on medical records. The data allow a breakdown by age, thus enabling an estimate of farm accident rates for children, youth, and the elderly, people whose accidents are typically excluded from farm accident statistics. Data are also presented that provide a farm operator's perspective on farm accidents, showing that many farm operators had knowledge about accidents through their own close calls and through their efforts to assist others who had farm accidents. The farm operator's perspective is also reflected in data indicating greater concern about chemical and air quality health risks than about risks from farm machinery and livestock.