Risk Factors for Occupational Injuries Among Full-Time Farmers in Finland

Details

• Personal Author:
  Karttunen JP ; Louhelainen K ; Mäittälä J ; Rautiainen RH ; Suutarinen J ; Taattola K ; Viluksela MK
• Description:
  The objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of and farm management-related risk factors for occupational injuries among full-time farmers. A computer-assisted telephone interview was conducted among randomly selected self-employed full-time farmers (n = 1182; 911 male and 271 female). The response rate was 86%. Two-thirds of the respondents raised dairy or beef cattle. Nearly 16% of the farmers had experienced one or more occupational injuries requiring medical consultation during the past 12 months; the total number of such injuries was 222. Injuries were more common among male (17 injuries/100 person-years) than female farmers (13 injuries/100 person-years). The injuries occurred most frequently in animal husbandry work (n = 97). Falling or slipping was the most common mechanism of injury. Poisson regression with a stepwise (forward) model selection procedure identified the following risk factors for occupational injuries: male gender, younger age, cooperation with other farmers, perceived high accident risk, and stress symptoms. The adjusted rate ratios for these risk factors ranged from 1.40 to 1.96. This study indicates that interventions are needed, particularly among male farmers in their early years of full-time farm operation. At this stage of life, heavy financial burden and stress while establishing and expanding production may contribute to injuries. To reduce stress and related injuries, we recommend guidance for farmers regarding the organization and management of farm work. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Agriculture Farmers Livestock Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Age Groups Agricultural Workers Animal Handlers Animal Husbandry Workers Author Keywords: Age Farm Gender Health Health Surveys Injuries Injury Management Risk Risk Factors Risk Management Stress Work Practices

  More +
• ISSN:
  1074-7583
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Nebraska ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  83-93
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055137
• Citation:
  J Agric Saf Health 2012 Apr; 18(2):83-93
• Contact Point Address:
  Kirsti M. A. Taattola, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 310, FI-70101 Kuopio, Finland
• Email:
  kirsti.taattola@ttl.fi
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20110901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:904d372f9429aa7590bd15d4ef279e9e52850928538d6cb9d9fc30421a795d9b9594d958ab7b3b67587826efb8b49df3d4ce1e5c83ec6594f22610c67d3f044b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217500/cdc_217500_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 216.46 KB ]