A recent research study found the a third of all ag injuries are sustained by those under 18 years old.
Agriculture is well-known as being one of the most dangerous industries. Working with unpredictable livestock, operating heavy machinery, and doing physically challenging tasks means that many things can go awry. A recent research study conducted by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences found that, while agriculture is indeed dangerous, a third of all ag injuries are suffered by youths. See the details from the research study from a Citrus Industry article below.
A Look at Ag Injuries and Youth
The study looked at the 62,079 non-fatal, ag-related injuries treated in emergency rooms in the U.S. from 2015 to 2019 using data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. They found that nearly a third of those injuries were suffered by youths. The most common ag injuries were fractures, followed by open wound or amputation, and the most common source of injuries were vehicles, with tractors being the most common source of vehicle-related injuries in ag.
“Agriculture and forestry are among the most hazardous industries in the U.S., and part of our overall goal here at Penn State in the ag safety and health program … is to conduct research that will help us understand the causes of injuries and fatalities,” said Judd Michael, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and the study author. “Because we know that if we understand why they happen, it’s much easier to prevent them,” he said.
Michael maintained that the abundance of family farms could be one reason why so many youths sustain injuries in agriculture. “Small farms are family-oriented businesses, and often they have all their family members helping out,” he said.
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