1999 Wisconsin Farm-Related Fatalities   Mark A. Purschwitz, Cheryl A. Skjolaas and Yuyen Chang UW Center for Agricultural Safety and Health  Department of Biological Systems Engineering  University of Wisconsin-Extension/Madison

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Definition | Types of Fatalities | Tractor-Related | Machine-Related | County | Month | Age and Gender | Data Source

Twenty-six fatalities related to farm work or work site activities occurred in Wisconsin in 1999, compared to 29 fatalities in 1998 and 41 in 1997.  Wisconsin has averaged 33.4 such fatalities per year over the past five years.
The 1999 Wisconsin farm fatality rate (number of fatalities per 100,000 workers) was 26.5, based on an estimated average of 98,000 workers in production agriculture in Wisconsin in 1999, as reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (including farm operators, unpaid family labor, and hired workers, but excluding service workers hired through agricultural labor contractors).  This compares to rates of 28.2 and 38.9 for 1998 and 1997, respectively.
 

According to the National Safety Council, agriculture is consistently one of the three most hazardous industries in the U.S. (along with mining and construction), with an estimated 780 work deaths in 1998 and a fatality rate of 22.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.  This  compares with 5100 fatalities for all U.S. industries combined, with a death rate of 3.8 per 100,000.

Farm-Related Fatality Definition

Farm-related fatalities are defined as unintentional deaths resulting from injury or environmental factors involving farm work or hazards of the farm work site.  Fatalities resulting from heart attacks, recreational activities, home-related activities, or most motor vehicle injuries, are not included in this definition.

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Types of Farm-Related Fatalities

Farm tractors were involved in 13 (50%) of the 26 fatalities.  Other farm machines were involved in seven (26.9%) of the 26 fatalities.  These are discussed in more detail later in this report.  There was one confined space fatality, involving silo gas.  There was one animal-related fatality, involving a bull attack.  The other four fatalities involved a trench collapse, an electrocution, a child being crushed by a falling gate, and a documented case of death due to farmer's lung disease.

Farm Tractor-Related Fatalities

Farm tractors were involved in 13 farm fatalities in 1999, compared with 15 in 1998 and 11 in 1997. Tractor rollovers (overturns) accounted for eight  (61.5 %) of the tractor fatalities, including a child on an implement killed when the tractor overturned onto the implement. Runovers/falls (being run over by the tractor, and / or falling from it) accounted for four fatalities (30.8%). One additional tractor-related fatality involved a roadway collision.
 

Machine-Related Fatalities

Farm machines (other than tractors) were involved in seven farm fatalities in 1999, compared with eight in 1998 and 10 in 1997.  Entanglements (including amputations, lacerations, or other trauma) accounted for three fatalities (42.8%); machines included a hay baler, manure spreader, and skid-steer loader. Two fatalities (28.6%) involved being pinned or crushed by a machine; one involved skid-steer loader and one a feed mixer during repairs. Two fatalities (28.6%) involved being run over by a machine; one was a mower, the other a hay baler.
 

County of Occurrence

In 1999, farm-related fatalities were reported in 22 counties.  One county had three fatalities, two counties had two fatalities each, and 19 counties had one fatality.
 

Month of Occurrence

The peak month for fatalities was June, with 10 (38.5%) fatalities. There were fatalities in nine of the 12 months; the distribution by month of occurrence is given below. (Month of occurrence is when the injury occurred; in some cases, the victim died later.)
 

Age and Gender of Victims

Twenty-five  (96.2%) of the victims were males, and one was female; she was a child.
Persons age 45-64 accounted for nine (34.6%) of the victims. Persons age 65 and older accounted for six (23.1%).  Four (15.4%) of the victims were age 14 or younger, including two (7.7%) age four or younger. The following table gives the age distribution using standard National Safety Council age categories, with expanded categories below age 25. (Percentages may not add up due to round-off.)
 

Data Sources

Clippings from Wisconsin daily and weekly newspapers; Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Health Information death certificate registry; National Agricultural Statistics Service Farm Labor Reports.

August 2000