Injuries in the Iowa Certified Safe Farm Study

Abstract

The aims of this article are to assess injury characteristics and risk factors in theIowa Certified Safe Farm (CSF) program and to evaluate the effectiveness of CSF for reducinginjuries. This intervention program includes a health screening, on- farm safety review,education, and monetary incentives. Cohorts of farmers in an intervention group (n = 152) andcontrol group (n = 164) in northwestern Iowa were followed for a three-year period. Duringthe follow-up, there were 318 injuries (42/100 person-years), of which 112 (15/100person-years) required professional medical care. The monetary cost of injuries was $51,764($68 per farm per year). There were no differences in the self -reported injury rates and costsbetween the intervention and control groups. Raising livestock, poor general health, andexposures to dust and gas, noise, chemicals and pesticides, and lifting were among risk factorsfor injury. Most injuries in this study were related to animals, falls from elevation,slips/trips/falls, being struck by or struck against objects, lifting, and overexertion. Machinerywas less prominent than generally reported in the literature. Hurry, fatigue, or stress werementioned as the primary contributing factor in most injuries. These findings illustrate the needfor new interventions to address a multitude of hazards in the farm work environment as wellas management and organization of farm work.