An Analysis of Agricultural Injuries and Accidents among Aged Farmers in Kochi / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Agriculture has been reported as one of the most dangerous industries, but there are a very few statistical reports about agricultural injuries and accidents in Japan. The authors conducted analyses of agricultural injuries and accidents data from 1992 to 1995 (n=333) in Kochi, in order to discuss issues of agricultural safety and health, and the characteristics of agricultural injuries and accidents among aged farmers.<BR>The average age of 333 patients, including 13 deaths, was 57.1 years old, and 174 patients (52.3%) were over 60 years old. One hundred and thirty seven accidents (41.4%) occurred during the period from July to September. Injuries resulting from falls topped the list with 101 patients (30.3%), followed by pinchs and involvements with 58 (17.4%), cuts and lacerations with 54 (16.2%), and slips with 36 (10.8%). The injury causes were agricultural machinery in 134 patients (40.2%), agricultural facilities in 34 (10.2%), motor vehcles in 27 (8.1%), and farm animals in 18 (5.4%). The rate of fall accidents was significantly higher among people over 60 years old than among those under 60 years old (p<0.001). The rate of serious injuries and accidents was significantly higher among people over the age of 60 than among those under the age of 60 (p<0.01).<BR>Considering these results, effective and feasible preventions for agricultural injuies and accidents must be safety education and training, safety procedure manuals, which should be easy to understand for aged farmers, and improvements of agricultural machinery and eqiupments.