Publicity Materials - Injuries to Youth on Racial Minority Farm Operations - 2003

Non-fatal Injuries to Youth Living on
Racial Minority Farms, 2003

Racial Minority Farm Operations
Just the facts . . .
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In 2003, 57,000 farms were operated by racial
minorities in the United States; racial minority
farms include those operated by Blacks, Native
Americans/Alaska Natives, Asian/Pacific
Islanders, and Other minority races

Injuries to Youth on Racial
Minority Farm Operations, 2003

To receive NIOSH documents or for more
information about occupational safety and
health topics, contact:

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About 1/3 (18,700) of these farms reported
having youth less than 20 years old living on
them

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27,400 youth lived on these racial minority
operated farms

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1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

630 injuries (1.7 injuries/day) occurred to youth
who lived on, worked on, or visited these racial
minority operated farms

1-888-232-6348 (TTY)

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About 2/3 (410) of the injuries were to youth
who lived on the farm

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

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Between 1995 and 2002, 81 racial minority
youth died on farms (42 deaths/100,000 youth)

Visit the NIOSH Web site at:

Racial Minority Youth Fatalities on
Farms, 1995-2002

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh
Visit the NIOSH Childhood Agricultural Injury
Initiative site at:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/childag/

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Safer · Healthier · People™
August 2007

Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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Floors, walkways, ground (34%)

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Persons, animals, plants, minerals (33%)

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Vehicles (ATVs, tractors, automobiles,
12%)

The most common types of injury were:
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Broken bone (28%)

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Bruise (18%)

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Cut (17%)

The body parts most commonly injured were:
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Leg (17%)

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Foot, ankle, toe (16%)

Non-fatal injury rates (per 1,000 youth) for youth
living* on racial minority farms by age group, 2003

Of the 81 racial minority youth who died on
farms in the United States, most were
between the ages of 16 and 19 years
The majority of deaths to racial minority
youth on farms were due to drowning
(40%); machinery (9%), such as tractors;
and motor vehicles (9%), which include
ATVs
Understanding how to create a safe farm
environment is important for farm
operators and their families. Youth who
live and work on farms are exposed to
potentially dangerous farm-related
hazards more frequently than other youth.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-163

The most common sources for the 410 nonfatal injuries to youth living on a racial
minority farm were:

Injuries/1,000 youth

Delivering on the Nation’s promise
Safety and health at work for all people through research
and prevention

18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
< 10
All Injuries

∗

10-15

Age (years)
Work Injuries

16-19
Non-w ork Injuries

Includes all individuals 0-19 years of age who live on
a racial minority farm operation.

How to Keep the Youth on Your Farm Safe
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Children do what they see...be a good role
model for farm safety. Devote a day to
FARM SAFETY with your children.
Inspect your farm for hazards to children.
Remove as many hazards as possible.
Mark dangerous areas clearly with hazard
signs.

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Provide an enclosed and supervised safe
play area for children. Do not allow
children to play around machinery,
workshops, storage buildings, or where
work is occurring on the farm.
Assign farm chores to youth that are
appropriate for their age such as those
recommended in the North American
Guidelines for Childhood Agricultural
Tasks (NAGCAT).

Keeping Youth Safe Around Animals
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Teach youth how to handle and work with
animals safely.

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Farm animals that are breeding, have
newborns, or are sick can be aggressive make sure children have no contact with
these animals.

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Children should wear proper protective
clothing when handling animals. For
example, youth should always wear a
helmet when riding horses.

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Keeping Youth Safe Around Machinery

All household pets should have proper
health checks and shots.

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Do not allow extra riders on tractors, all
terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other farm
equipment; follow the “ONE SEAT— ONE
RIDER” rule.

Keeping Youth Safe Around Water
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Always supervise children when playing in or
near water.

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All entrances to ponds, lagoons, pools, and
manure pits should be restricted. All farm
ponds should have water safety and rescue
equipment.

NEVER leave keys in the ignition of
machinery or vehicles.
Limit operation of ATVs, tractors, and
machinery to older youth. ATV
manufacturers recommend that riders be at
least 16 years of age for ATVs 400 cc or
larger, and that they take an ATV safety
training course. Youth should not operate
any ATV without wearing a helmet.
Child labor laws require that hired youth
be at least 16 years old to operate tractors
and machinery on farms, except for 14and 15- year olds who have received
operator certification. All youth should be
properly trained before operating tractors
or machinery.

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Child labor laws do not apply to youth on
their family’s farm. However, they are a
good guide for when youth are old enough
to do hazardous work safely.

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Youth, like adults, should not operate farm
tractors without a Roll-Over Protective
Structure (ROPS) and a seatbelt.

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Youth should not operate tractors or other
vehicles on public roads without a driver’s
license.

Farm operators who hire youth to work on
their farm should be aware of all
applicable child labor laws.

For More Information
National Children’s Center for Rural and
Agricultural Health and Safety
1000 North Oak Avenue
Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449
Telephone: 1-888-924-SAFE (7233)
Web: research.marshfieldclinic.org/children
North American Guidelines for Children’s
Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT)
Telephone: 1-888-924-SAFE (7233)
Web: www.nagcat.org

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Alcohol contributes to many teen drownings
on farms. Talk to your teens about the dangers of drinking and swimming.

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Never leave containers with standing water
in areas where toddlers are present.

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
P.O. Box 458
Earlham, Iowa 50072
Telephone: 1-800-423-5437; 515-758-2827
Web: www.fs4jk.org

Farm Youth Dies in ATV Rollover
While Helping Father Chop Silage

U.S. Department of Labor
Frances Perkins Building
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
Telephone: 1-866-4-USA-DOL
Web: www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/
Agriculturalemployment.htm

2004 — An 8-year-old boy was killed while
helping his father chop hay for silage on
their dairy farm. The boy was helping by
driving to and from the field location on
an ATV. As the boy was returning home
after 10:00 p.m., he drove up a slight
field embankment causing the ATV to roll
over, pinning him to the ground.

INSURE KIDS NOW!!
Your State , and every state in the nation, has a health
insurance program for infants, children, and teens. The
insurance is available to children in working families.
Make a free call to find out more about your State’s Program.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Telephone: 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669)
Web: www.insurekidsnow.gov