Authors
Schenker-MB; Orenstein-MR; Samuels-SJ
Source
Am J Ind Med 2002 Nov; 42(5):455-464
Abstract
Background: Agriculture is a hazardous industry associated with many occupational injuries and illnesses. We describe California farmers' self-reported exposure to five agricultural hazards and their use of protective equipment. Methods: A telephone survey of 1,947 California farmers recorded information on occupational exposure, health outcomes and use of protective equipment to lessen risk from exposure to dust, sun, noise, pesticides and tractors. Results: Over 93% of respondents reported using personal protection around pesticides; however, fewer than 1/3 used consistent protection against other hazards. Younger age and male sex were associated with better use of protection from dust, noise, pesticide and tractors, but negatively associated with sun protection. There was no consistent relationship of protective behaviors with cigarette smoking, living on the farm, marital status, or time in non-administrative farmwork. Risk perception was strongly associated with behavior; farmers concerned about specific health problems were much more likely to use protective equipment. Conclusions: Some farmer characteristics are associated with more safe behaviors, but efforts to encourage protective behaviors on farms should be broadly based in view of a lack of a single risk-taking profile among California farmers.
Keywords
Farmers; Risk-analysis; Risk-factors; Protective-equipment; Noise-levels; Pesticides; Tractors; Hazards; Industrial-environment; Industrial-exposures; Industrial-hazards; Injuries
Contact
Marc B. Schenker, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, TB168, Davis, CA 95616-8638
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
schenker@epm.ucdavis.edu
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U07-CCU-906162
Source Name
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Performing Organization
University of California - Davis