Salah Issa, assistant professor and Illinois Extension specialist, points out the challenge in tracking injuries due to the exemption of many farms from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reporting requirements, typically because they employ fewer than 10 full-time workers.
In the U.S. and Canada, the researchers examined 48 academic papers, identifying vehicles, machinery, slips, trips, animals, chemicals, and tools as significant injury sources.
Men were found to be over twice as likely as women to suffer injuries, with the age of victims varying by surveillance method.
Expanding the scope to include 69 articles from 17 countries, the global review emphasized the role of tractors and farm equipment in both fatal and non-fatal injuries.
While animal-related injuries accounted for a minor percentage in North America and Europe, they represented a more significant threat in Asia, reflecting the less automated nature of farming in that region.
This research not only confirms the dangerous nature of agricultural work globally but also highlights the importance of diverse injury surveillance methods to capture a full scope of the issue.
The findings call for enhanced educational programs and safety interventions to protect workers in this essential industry, ultimately aiming to reduce the high rates of injuries and fatalities.