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Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. Farming is one of the few industries in which the families (who often share the work and live on the premises) are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries.
* Approximately 1,783,000 full-time workers were employed in production agriculture in the U.S. in 2009. During this same year, 440 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury for a fatality rate of 24.7 deaths per 100,000 workers.
* An estimated 1.03 million children and adolescents under 20 years of age resided on farms in 2009, with about 519,000 of these youth performing work on the farms. In addition to the youth who live on farms, an additional 230,000 children and adolescents were hired to work on U.S. farms in 2009.
* On average, 113 youth less than 20 years of age die annually from farm-related injuries (1995 -2002), with most of these deaths occurring to youth 16-19 years of age (34%).
* Of the leading sources of fatal injuries to youth on U.S. farms, 23% percent involved machinery (includes tractors), 19% involved motor vehicles (includes ATVs), and 16% were due to drowning.
* In 2009, an estimated 16,100 children and adolescents were injured on farms; 3,400 of these injuries were due to farm work.
* Between 1992 and 2009, 9,003 farmers and farm workers died from work-related injuries in the US. The leading cause of death for these workers was tractor overturns, accounting for over 90 deaths annually.
* The most effective way to prevent tractor overturn deaths is the use of a Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS). In 2006, only 59% of tractors used on farms in the US were equipped with ROPS. If ROPS were placed on all tractors used on US farms manufactured since the mid-1960’s, the prevalence of ROPS-equipped tractors could be increased to over 80%.
* Every day, about 243 agricultural workers suffer lost-work-time injury. Five percent of these injuries result in permanent impairment.
In FY 1990, Congress directed NIOSH to develop an extensive agricultural safety and health program to address the high risks of injuries and illnesses experienced by workers and families in agriculture. NIOSH funds research and prevention programs at university centers in 20 states. These programs conduct research on injuries associated with different farm operations, as well as pesticide exposure, pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss, and stress.
A new set of national occupational safety and health goals for the agricultural production industry have been developed as part of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) process, and are available for public review and comment. Further information on agriculture production safety and health is also available as part of the NORA Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishing Sector activities.
Hmm, much asthma .. must say, as a kid who drove a tractor at about 10, i balked a bit at this ..
"Rehberg added that he's previously employed a 10-year-old neighbor to herd cashmere goats with what he described as a Kawasaki youth motorcycle. "Now would that be exempt under this rule?" Rehberg demanded of Nancy J. Leppink, a deputy administrator in the Labor Department.
But neither Leppink nor Rehberg seemed entirely sure where motorcycle goat-herding would fall under the new rules."
I hope it isn't covered, it would be fun. That said, from here, based on the info above, it looks to me, Rehberg, CRAHES from his perch when he says this ..
""You can't get hurt," Rehberg fumed. "It's impossible. You could have a five-year-old out there running it.""
Yeah, i know, he's only talking about his farm (i wonder if any kids have been injured on it?), but what of the bigger picture?
YET AGAIN ..
"Although the original proposals largely exempted family farms, the Labor Department bowed yesterday to the farming industry, further widening the exemptions it had already put forward. But that didn't stop Rehberg and GOP members of the House agriculture subcommittee from piling on the department Thursday, using the hearing as an opportunity to put forth their rural bona fides."
Government and Democrats compromise .. but it's NEVER good enough .. is it.
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