Authors
Douphrate-DI; Rosecrance-JC; Stallones-L; Reynolds-SJ; Gilkey-DP
Source
Am J Ind Med 2009 May; 52(5):391-407
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that livestock-handling injuries are among the most severe of agricultural injuries. This study identifies the costs, characteristics, and contributing factors associated with livestock-handling injuries among Colorado dairy farmers, cattle/livestock raisers, and cattle dealers. METHODS: A 10-year (1997-2006) history of Colorado's workers' compensation claims data was used for analysis. Descriptive analyses of livestock-handling injury claims were performed. Claim cost analysis was also conducted. The agent-host-environment epidemiological model was used to analyze injury event descriptions. RESULTS: A total of 1,114 livestock-handling claims were analyzed. Claims associated with milking parlor tasks represented nearly 50% of injuries among dairy workers. Claims associated with riding horseback, sorting/penning cattle, and livestock-handling equipment represented high proportions of livestock-handling injuries among cattle/livestock raisers and cattle dealers. Claims associated with livestock-handling represented the highest percentage of high-cost and high-severity injuries in all three sectors. CONCLUSIONS: Livestock-handling injuries are a significant problem, more costly, and result in more time off work than other causes of agricultural injuries. There is a strong and compelling need to develop cost-effective interventions to reduce the number of livestock-handling injuries in agriculture.
Keywords
Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-processes; Agricultural-workers; Agriculture; Animal-husbandry; Animal-husbandry-workers; Animals; Epidemiology; Farmers; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Occupational-exposure; Occupational-hazards; Risk-factors; Safety-measures; Safety-practices; Safety-programs; Statistical-analysis; Work-areas; Work-environment; Work-operations; Work-performance; Work-practices;
Author Keywords: occupational injury; agriculture; livestock; workers' compensation
Contact
David I. Douphrate, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 1681 Campus Delivery, Ft. Collins, CO 80523-1681
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
david.douphrate@colostate.edu
Funding Type
Grant; Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U50-OH-008085; Grant-Number-R49-CCR-811509; Grant-Number-T42-OH-009229
Priority Area
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Source Name
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Performing Organization
Colorado State University - Ft. Collins