Animal-related activities as risk factors for injuries among youth on agricultural operations.
Abstract: Working with animals on agricultural operations is hazardous for youths. This study evaluated the associations between activities and injuries related to specific animal types. A case-control study within the Regional Rural Injury Study II included 425 youths (less than 20 years of age) with injuries related to their operation and 1,886 controls (randomly selected youths). Exposures of interest were collected for the months prior to injury events for cases and randomly selected months for controls, based on an injury incidence algorithm. Multivariate logistic regression characterized associations between specific animal-related activities and injury outcomes among youths who reported working with the same animals. Large proportions of cases and controls, respectively, worked with beef cattle (47%, 28%), followed by horses (28%, 14%), and dairy cattle (22%, 12%). Feeding was the primary activity associated with animals; over 80% of cases and controls were involved in this activity during relevant exposure months, followed by milking (63%, 44%) among those working with dairy cows and herding (81%, 61%) among beef cattle workers. Elevated risk of dairy cattle-related injury was associated with milking (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-6.6) whereas beef cattle-related injuries were associated with calving (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 2.1-8.6) and footwork (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0-4.9). Among youths working with animals, explicit activities can be identified that are associated with animal-specific injuries. The identification of relevant hazardous tasks is necessary for the development of effective prevention measures.
Publication Date: 2015-04-24 PubMed ID: 25906277DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2015.1010058Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research establishes a relationship between specific animal-related activities and the risk of injuries among youth working on agricultural operations. Particularly, the study focuses on activities related to specific types of animals such as beef cattle, horses, and dairy cattle, and their associated injury risks in the agricultural context.
Research Methodology
- The study is a case-control study conducted within the framework of the Regional Rural Injury Study II.
- The sample comprised 425 youths under the age of 20 who had suffered injuries related to their work on the farm and were compared to 1,886 youths who were chosen randomly as controls and had no injuries.
- Data on the exposure of these youths to animal-related activities were collected for the months leading up to the injury events for the case group and randomly selected months for the control group.
Main Findings
- A significant portion of the youths in both the case and control groups worked with beef cattle (47% and 28%, respectively), horses (28% and 14%, respectively), and dairy cattle (22% and 12%, respectively).
- Feeding was found to be the primary activity associated with animals, with over 80% of cases and controls engaged in this activity.
- Besides feeding, milking (63% cases, 44% controls) among those working with dairy cows and herding (81% cases, 61% controls) among beef cattle workers were also identified as common activities.
Key Associations
- An increased risk of dairy cattle-related injuries was associated with milking (with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.5).
- Beef cattle-related injuries were associated with calving (with an OR of 4.2) and footwork (with an OR of 2.2).
Conclusions
- The study suggests that explicit animal-related tasks can be associated with higher chances of specific injuries among young agricultural workers.
- Identifying these hazardous activities is crucial in developing effective preventative measures.
Cite This Article
APA
Ryan AD, Gerberich SG, Alexander BH, Renier CM.
(2015).
Animal-related activities as risk factors for injuries among youth on agricultural operations.
J Agromedicine, 20(2), 188-194.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2015.1010058 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota , USA.
MeSH Terms
- Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data
- Adolescent
- Agriculture / statistics & numerical data
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Cattle
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Dairying
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Midwestern United States / epidemiology
- Risk Factors
- Young Adult
Grant Funding
- R01 OH004270 / NIOSH CDC HHS
- R01 CCR514375 / PHS HHS
- R01 OH04270 / NIOSH CDC HHS
Citations
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