For most people, farming and agriculture doesn’t evoke thoughts of danger and personal injuries. Pulling weeds from a tomato garden on a sunny day, or a tractor serenely working across a beautiful Hudson Valley field don’t seem like situations that result in serious injury or death. But according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, farming is actually the 10th-most deadly occupation in the United States, with a fatal work injury rate of 20.9 per 100,000 workers.
Most dangerous jobs in the United States:
- Fishing and hunting – 132.1 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Logging – 91.7 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Roofing – 47 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Construction – 43.3 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Aircraft pilots and engineers – 34.3 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Refuse and recyclable material collection – 33.1 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Iron and steelwork – 32.5 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Trucking and driving – 25.8 fatal injuries per 100,000
- Underground mining – 21.6
- Farming, ranching and other agriculture – 20.9 fatal injuries per 100,000
How many farms are in the Mid-Hudson Valley?
We have over two thousand local farms that cumulatively sell around $300M of product annually. According to the New York State Comptroller’s office:
- Columbia County, 518 Farms, 99,179 acres, 24.4% of total land area, $88M in sales
- Dutchess County: 620 Farms, 101,948 acres, 15.2% of total land area, $44M in sales
- Greene County, 206 Farms, 34,979 acres, 8.4% of total land area, $19M in sales
- Orange County: 621 Farms, 81,192 acres, 15.6% of total land area, $88M in sales
- Sullivan County: 366 Farms, 59,942 acres, 9.7% of total land area, $28M in sales
- Ulster County: 421 Farms, 57,932 acres, 8.2% of total land area, $54M in sales
What are the most common causes of injuries on farms?
Some of the most common farming personal injuries are caused by:
- Tractors and machinery overturning and crushing workers
- Falls from heights (standing on barns or silos)
- Exposure to chemicals and pesticides
- Asphyxiation in buildings with inadequate ventilation
- Overheating
- Limbs entangled and crushed by farm equipment
- Animal attacks
These causes result in a wide range of injuries, like fractures, broken bones, open wounds, and amputations.
According to a recent study by Penn State researchers, the average age of someone with a farm-related injury was 39, with 30% of the victims being minors and 22% being seniors. The explanation for that is that minors and seniors may not necessarily be working on farms, but as family members or visitors, they may be hanging around on the grounds and not paying attention to dangerous situations.
Overwhelmingly, the most common fatal accidents on farms involve transportation and machinery, whether it’s being crushed on the job site or an accident that occurs while moving between jobsites. It’s also common that farm vehicles on roads can cause or be part of a car crash. Farms have a duty to provide proper safety shutoffs, guards, shields and to take all precautions to create safe work environment.
How can someone recover for their injuries in a farm personal injury accident?
Personal injuries caused by incidents at farms or from farming equipment can result in massive medical bills, the loss of future income, loss of enjoyment of life, and other damages. The best thing to do after such an accident is to contact experienced personal injury attorneys who will pursue the maximum possible compensation for your injuries. Our firm offers free personal injury consultations at our offices in Kingston, NY, Poughkeepsie or Newburgh; contact us today at 845-600-0000 to schedule a free consultation.