Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. California Farm Survey of Occupational Injuries and HazardsPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. Special Issue (1):99-108 . (doi: 10.13031/2013.15379) @1998Authors: A. M. Osorio, J. Beckman, C. R. Geiser, E. L. Husting, A. Inai, K. F. Summerill Keywords: Agricultural health, California, Farm worker, Occupational injuries, Farm hazards It has been well-recognized that farm workers are at very high risk for occupational injuries. Due to the unique composition of the California agricultural industry and workforce, especially the migrant farm worker population, a survey of farms in two agricultural counties was conducted. The primary goal of the survey is to evaluate commodity-specific farm injuries and hazards in two highly agricultural regions in California with a high proportion of migrant farm labor, Fresno and Monterey Counties. The specific aim was to evaluate a total of 350 farms randomly selected after stratification for commodity and farm size. Each farm evaluation consisted of a farm owner/operator interview, seven randomly selected worker interviews, and a standardized health and safety walk-though survey. From 1992 through 1996, field visits and data collection have been completed for 357 farms (representing over 2000 worker interviews and 157 walk-through evaluations). Preliminary results indicate a work force of mostly Hispanic men (approximately 89%) with a mean age of 38. There were high prevalences of musculoskeletal problems in the lower back (24%), upper back (19%) and wrist (18%) regions of the body. During the past year, 29% of the workers reported occupational injuries associated with farm work, farm equipment or transportation. Among the injured workers, 20% reported multiple incidents, 27% missed at least one day of work, 46% saw a licensed medical care provider, and 22% knew of a workers compensation report being filed. Only 70% of the injured workers reported received training on the work task that was associated with their injury. The final California Farm Survey will allow a unique view of the farming industry in the State from the concurrent perspective of the owner/operator, the farm worker and the study walk-through evaluator. (Download PDF) (Export to EndNotes)
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