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Agricultural Injury and Safety Statistics: Do They Apply to Horse Owners?By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 20, 2011
Safety in the agricultural industry: What does it mean to you as a horse owner unloading bags of feed from your car? Or as a farm owner who uses a generator and power saw while repairing fences? Or as a teen whose after-school job involves spreading manure at the local boarding stable?
Agriculture (including working around horses) ranks high among the most hazardous industries. In 2008, 456 farmers and farm workers died from work-related injuries. That's a fatality rate of 25 deaths per 100,000 workers. Machinery, including tractors, played a significant part in 23% of fatal injuries. On average, 96 deaths were caused by tractor rolloverseach year between 1992 and 2007.
Finally, the cost of all work injuries (not just agricultural) in the United States in 2009 totaled $168.9 billion. This figure exceeded the combined profits reported by the 32 largest Fortune 500 companies.
So, what can you do? Reread the line about agriculture ranking among the most hazardous industries. Then, think about what you are doing; use the safest possible practices for all agricultural jobs; get training before operating equipment; install roll-over protective devices and use seat belts on tractors.
Safety in all phases of agriculture isn't a one-time thing; it's an every-minute effort that's well worth your attention.
For more information, see Occupational Injuries and Fatalities.
