Severe farm injuries among New York farmers

Background Data from the telephone interview portion of the New York State Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance were used to study the incidence and predictors of severe farm injury. Methods One thousand seven hundred and six participants completed two telep hone interviews in which they reported all injuries over a 12-month period Results Nine percent of participants reported at least one severe farm inju ry. Using logistic regression the significant risk factors for sustaining a t least one severe farm injury are younger age, the presence of hearing los s or joint trouble, working more hours per day, being the owner/operator of the farm, and being from a farm with higher gross sales. Conclusions There needs to be continuing education of all farmers as to the risks of injury. However when resources are limited, we recommend that inj ury education and interventions in this farming population should target yo unger farmers, those who work longer hours, owner/operators, farmers from h igher grossing farms, with special attention to farmers who have physical i mpairments. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.