Abstract
Objectives
This study was conducted to estimate farm fatality rates and to describe patterns of fatal agricultural injury on Saskatchewan farms from 1990 to 2004.
Methods
We used data available from the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program (CAISP) for farm work-related fatalities in Saskatchewan, Canada from January 1990 to December 2004.
Results
There were 251 farm work-related fatalities recorded between 1990 and 2004 in Saskatchewan. The majority (92%) of work-related fatalities were in males. The overall fatality rate was 11.9 (95% CI, 2.0–30.1) per 100,000. The overall age-adjusted work-related fatality rate was 32.1 (95% CI, 19.6–44.6) per 100,000 among males and 3.2 (95% CI, 1.3–5.1) per 100,000 among females. Age-adjusted rate increased from 29.3 (95% CI, 6.9–59.3) per 100,000 in 1990–1994 to 37.1 per 100,000 in 2000–2004 in males. Trend analysis of the fatality rate of all cases showed an average annual increase of 3.8% and it was statistically significant (p<0.05). Bystander and runover injuries contributed to a high proportion of fatalities in children (32.1%) and the elderly population (26.7%).
Conclusion
The burden of injury mortality is substantial and there has been a statistically significant upward trend in injury rate over the 15-year study period. High vigilance is needed on the part of adults to prevent a high proportion of runover injuries in children and the elderly population.
Key words: Injury, surveillance, farm fatality, agriculture, Saskatchewan
Résumé
Objectifs
Estimer les taux et décrire la structure des accidents mortels survenus dans les exploitations agricoles de la Saskatchewan entre 1990 et 2004.
Méthode
Nos données sur les accidents agricoles mortels survenus en Saskatchewan, au Canada, entre janvier 1990 et décembre 2004 sont tirées du Programme canadien de surveillance des blessures en milieu agricole (PCSBMA).
Résultats
On a enregistré 251 accidents agricoles mortels entre 1990 et 2004 en Saskatchewan. La majorité (92 %) des accidents mortels liés au travail sont survenus chez des hommes. Le taux global d’accidents mortels était de 11,9 (IC de 95 %, 2,0–30,1) p. 100 000. Le taux global d’accidents du travail mortels rajusté selon l’âge était de 32,1 (IC de 95 %, 19,6–44,6) p. 100 000 chez les hommes et de 3,2 (IC de 95 %, 1,3–5,1) p. 100 000 chez les femmes. Le taux rajusté selon l’âge a augmenté, passant de 29,3 (IC de 95 %, 6,9–59,3) p. 100 000 en 1990- 1994 à 37,1 p. 100 000 entre 2000 et 2004 chez les hommes. L’analyse des tendances des taux d’accidents mortels, tous cas confondus, fait état d’une augmentation annuelle moyenne de 3,8 %, et cette hausse est significative (p<0,05). Les blessures de tiers et les écrasements ont contribué à la proportion élevée d’accidents mortels chez les enfants (32,1 %) et les personnes âgées (26,7 %).
Conclusion
Le fardeau des accidents mortels est considérable, et l’on observe un mouvement de hausse significatif dans les taux de blessures sur les 15 années de l’étude. Une stricte vigilance est de mise de la part des adultes pour prévenir une grande proportion des blessures liées aux écrasements chez les enfants et les personnes âgées.
Mots clés: accidents, surveillance, accidents agricoles mortels, agriculture, Saskatchewan
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: This work was conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program. We recognize the support of the Canadian Agriculture Safety Program conducted by The Canadian Coalition for Agricultural Safety and Rural Health on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada; and the contribution of all the collaborators in the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program. We acknowledge the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) for a faculty time release grant through the Institute of Population and Public Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research to conduct this research.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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