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AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING

Burden, Need and Impact

	boats at the dock

Several factors contribute to the high fatal and non-fatal injury rates among workers in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector, compared with other industrial sectors. Work in these industries occurs mainly outdoors in harsh conditions, and often in remote, rural, and removed areas. Low profit margins and the seasonal nature of the work make these highly competitive, seasonally-intensive, and economically-risky industries. The work is physical and requires dangerous equipment, heavy machinery, and chemicals, among other risky conditions.

Data about work-related illnesses in AgFF are not as complete and reliable as for injuries. Chemical exposures, the fast pace of seasonal work, exposure to the elements, and repetitive motions in poor posture conditions are just a few of the factors that contribute to high levels of work-related illnesses. Work-related illnesses are most likely underreported because there may be a latency between exposure and illness and there may be multiple potential causes of an illness. It can therefore be difficult to accurately quantify exposure and attribute the illness to work-related exposures. Some of the common work-related illnesses among workers in these industries are acute and chronic pesticide poisoning, musculoskeletal disorders, heat and cold stress, and emotional stress.

NIOSH strives to maximize its impact in occupational safety and health. The Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF) Program identifies priorities to guide investments, and bases those priorities on the evidence of burden, need and impact. Below are the priority areas for the AgFF Program.

References

  1. Calvert, G. M., Beckman, J., Prado, J. B., Bojes, H., Mulay, P., Lackovic, M., & Higgins, S. (2013). Acute occupational pesticide-related illness and injury—United States, 2007–2010. CDC. Summary of notifiable noninfectious conditions and disease outbreaks—United States. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 62(54), 5-9.
  2. Calvert, G. M., & Higgins, S. A. (2010). Using surveillance data to promote occupational health and safety policies and practice at the state level: A case study. AJIM 53(2), 188-193.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Charts, 1992-2014. http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0013.pdf
  4. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2016). Commercial Fishing Incident Database. Anchorage, AK: NIOSH.
  5. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2016). Commercial Fishing Incident Database. Anchorage, AK: NIOSH.
  6. Lincoln, J. M., & Lucas, D. L. (2008). Commercial fishing fatalities--California, Oregon, and Washington, 2000-2006. MMWR, 57(16), 426-429.
  7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Charts, 1992-2014. http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0013.pdf
  8.  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/agff/emerging.html
  9. Kominers, Sara. Working in Fear Sexual Violence Against Women Farmworkers in the United States: A Literature Review. Oxfam America: Boston, MA; April 16, 2015. https://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/working-in-fear-sexual-violence-against-women-farmworkers-in-the-united-states-a-literature-review/
  10. Hernandez-Peck, 2001 Hernandez-Peck, MC. (2001) Older farmers: Factors affecting their health and safety. Part of ASH-NET 2001.
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  12. Zaloshnja E, Miller TR, Lawrence B (2012). Incidence and Cost of Injury Among Youths in Agricultural Settings, United States,2001-2006 Pediatrics. Vol. 129(4): 728-734.
  13. Donham K & Thelin A. (2016) Zoonotic Diseases: Overview of Occupational Hazards in Agriculture. In Donham K & Thelin A. Agricultural Medicine” Rural Occupational and Environmental Health, Safety, and Prevention, Second Edition; John Wiley & Sons Inc.:Hoboken, NJ.
  14. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. [Website] Outdoor Workers. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/ accessed September 23, 2016.
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  17. Beard, C.B., R.J. Eisen, C.M. Barker, J.F. Garofalo, M. Hahn, M. Hayden, A.J. Monaghan, N.H. Ogden, and P.J. Schramm, 2016: Ch. 5: Vectorborne Diseases. The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, 129–156. http://dx.doi.org/10.7930/J0765C7V
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