Fatal work related injuries in agricultural production and services to agriculture sectors of New Zealand, 1985-94

Objectives To describe work related fatal injuries to agricultural workers in New Zealand to identify priority areas for further research and injury c ontrol measures. Methods - Injury deaths in New Zealanders aged 15-84 inclusive for the peri od 1985-94 were identified and the coroner's files for these obtained. Thes e files were then reviewed to determine whether the death arose as a result of work activities. Those deaths considered to be work related were coded for information relating to decedent demographics and the circumstances of the fatal injury. Work related deaths from injury occurring in the agricult ural production and services to agriculture sectors were analysed. Results - The rate of fatal injuries to male agricultural workers over the study period was 21.2/100 000, with injury deaths in the agricultural secto rs accounting for nearly a quarter of all work related fatal injuries in Ne w Zealand in that time. There was no significant decline in fatal injuries to agricultural workers in the study decade. Workers in the 65-84 age brack et were at substantially higher risk of fatal injury than other age groups. Machinery and motor vehicles were commonly associated with fatal injury, w ith overturns on or next to embankments and slopes being the most frequent scenario. Conclusions - The results of this study highlight fatal injuries in older w orkers and machinery incidents (particularly tractors overturning) as prior ity areas for further research into contributing factors and injury control measures.