INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — An Indiana Department of Labor (IDOL) report released in late 2014 showed a significant reduction in nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the agriculture industry from 2012-13.
In fact, agriculture was the industry to show the most improvement in the annual IDOL Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, with a 50 percent decline in 2013. Only 3.6 full-time agricultural workers per 100 reported an illness or injury, compared to 7.2 per 100 in 2012.
That’s lower, even, than 2013’s overall state average of 3.8 injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time workers – the lowest rate since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the numbers in 1991 and a 5 percent decline from 2012. According to IDOL, "11 of 18 major Indiana industry categories experienced a reduction in nonfatal worker injuries and illnesses in 2013."
"Here in Indiana we are seeing a culture shift with managers and employees actively taking ownership of their workplace safety and health programs," said IDOL Commissioner Rick J. Ruble. "The Indiana Department of Labor remains committed to continuing the progress we see today in the years to come."
IDOL staff did not return a phone call requesting information on what efforts may have led to the drastic improvements in workplace safety or what programs or regulations might be on the horizon to continue those strides. However, the department’s mission statement states IDOL emphasizes "both enforcement and compliance assistance by employers."
The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service traditionally has reached out to the agriculture industry with information on farm safety, but Purdue farm safety specialist Bill Field said interest typically is low. Extension specialists continue to have a presence at farm shows and speak at meetings at conferences to spread their messages. "We reach a lot of people," he said.
Despite educational outreach programs, Field explained there may be other factors attributing to the decrease noted by IDOL. For example, there has been a steadily decreasing number of farms and laborers through the years. "When I started in 1977, the number of farms in our state was almost 100,000 farms," he said. "Now it’s 65,000."
In addition, he said today’s farmers work "smarter, not harder," with improved equipment that has more safety features. More efficient equipment and practices also require fewer laborers.
"The Department of Labor historically has not had to report on farms with less than 11 employees," Field said, adding a death on a farm doesn’t have to be reported to IDOL, either.
To further complicate the data collection, spouses and children are often unpaid labor not considered for the survey. "It’s not like working for Chrysler, where you clock in and clock out," Field said.
He explained, however, there has been a dramatic change in the number of children who work on the farm. Society began to view the work as too hard for young people, so fewer kids are brought into farm work.
"Now they’re engaged in more outside activities," Field added. "There’s a different viewpoint of children these days."
That may explain why the average age of a farm accident victim is 61; the average age of a farmer anymore is 58. "We’re looking at an older victim than we have, historically," he said.
Even with improvements, farming remains one of the most hazardous occupations in Indiana. Field said tractor rollovers are the single biggest cause of farm injuries and fatalities.
"If six rollovers cause fatalities, three times that many are injured in rollovers," he pointed out.
In Purdue’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, the Farm Safety and Health program has conducted research, collected farm safety data and produced annual summaries for nearly 40 years, providing what Field calls a "longitudinal" look at the issue. Farmers still work long hours, increasing the risk of injury, but they’re living longer.
"There are still unusual peaks," he said. "It’s still bumping up and down, but the general direction is down, so that’s good."
