Injuries to farmers and farm families in a dairy state
Waller, J.A.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association 34(4): 414-421
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-1736 PMID: 1564580 Document Number: 390310
This study examined injuries among farmers and farm family treated at two rural Vermont [USA] hospitals. Most involved dairy farming and woodlot activities. Livestock accounted for 38% of injuries among dairy farmers. Other injuries involved a variety of events, including equipment repair and use, haying, chemicals and biologicals, falls and contacts with fixed objects. Half of woodlot injuries involved chainsaws. On average, livestock-related injuries resulted in 21.5 days of disability for work during the first 6 months after injury, whereas those not involving livestock averaged 16.2 days of disability. On dairy farms 14% of farming injuries were to family members, and at least a third of all injuries to farm family members were work related. Insurance coverage for medical care was sparse for all rural persons treated for injury, especially for woodlot operators.