Illinois Correspondent

PEORIA, Ill. — The number of people who died from farm-related incidents in 2006-07 in Illinois was the lowest in the last three years, according to information released by COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services.

Twenty-two people died last year from farm-related incidents, 10 fewer than the previous year, the study revealed.

“Farmers face vital safety issues every day. Yet even one death is too many,” said Jeff Gendron, senior vice president of property/casualty operations for COUNTRY, the number-one insurer of Illinois farms. “We want to increase farm safety awareness to reduce farm-related deaths and injuries. We think our efforts make a difference.”

Thirteen farmers, three children and six non-farm residents lost their lives in farm-related accidents from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007.

Nine of the 22 deaths were tractor-related, accounting for the most farm-related deaths in the state for the seventh year in a row. Nearly half the deaths were caused by tractor rollovers, according to the study, while 23 percent of the total deaths were caused by collisions with farm machinery, oncoming traffic or farm animals. Sixty-three percent of the deaths involved someone over the age of 50.

According to the Illinois Press Assoc., there have been an average of 16 tractor-related deaths in Illinois in each of the past 10 years, with the majority of the victims 65 years of age or older.

While tractor-related deaths have decreased overall by four percent since 2005, the study found a significant increase in the amount of deaths caused by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and animal attacks, with each accounting for 14 percent of the deaths.

According to a chart provided by COUNTRY, farm deaths in Illinois have dramatically decreased since 1996-2001, when farm-related incidents resulting in deaths averaged 33 per year.

“Farm equipment manufacturers have increasingly made machinery safer,” said Chris Anderson, COUNTRY media relations coordinator.

“In addition, continual education and awareness efforts have made an impact. The National Safety Council leads this effort along with many other participants, including COUNTRY.

“Our efforts involve teaming with the Illinois Farm Bureau to fund an Ag Safety Grant Program and providing a variety of safety materials available at www.countryfinancial.com (online).”

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States, with farmers at risk for accidents, work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases and cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays.

Gendron encourages those in the agriculture industry to observe precautions when operating farm equipment, including monitoring the equipment’s safety features.

“Taking these steps will reduce the risk of serious farm injuries and accidents and will help keep farmers safe,” he said.

This farm news was published in the Sept. 26, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.