Livestock-handling injuries in agriculture: An analysis of Colorado workers' compensation data

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 391 - 407
• Main Authors: Douphrate, David I., Rosecrance, John C., Stallones, Lorann, Reynolds, Stephen J., Gilkey, David P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-05-2009; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology; agriculture; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Biological and medical sciences; Colorado - epidemiology; Costs and Cost Analysis; Humans; Incidence; livestock; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; occupational injury; Occupational medicine; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sex Distribution; workers' compensation; Workers' Compensation - economics; Workers' Compensation - statistics & numerical data; Wounds and Injuries - classification; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology; Young Adult; United States; North America; Colorado; America; USA, Colorado; Human; Costs; occupational injury; Indemnity; Occupational exposure; Indemnization; Trauma; Occupational accident; Compensation; Worker; Agriculture; Livestock; workers' compensation; Occupational medicine; Handling
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20686

Background
Previous studies have reported that livestock‐handling injuries are among the most severe of agricultural injuries. This study identifies the costs, characteristics, and contributing factors associated with livestock‐handling injuries among Colorado dairy farmers, cattle/livestock raisers, and cattle dealers.
Methods
A 10‐year (1997–2006) history of Colorado's workers' compensation claims data was used for analysis. Descriptive analyses of livestock‐handling injury claims were performed. Claim cost analysis was also conducted. The agent–host–environment epidemiological model was used to analyze injury event descriptions.
Results
A total of 1,114 livestock‐handling claims were analyzed. Claims associated with milking parlor tasks represented nearly 50% of injuries among dairy workers. Claims associated with riding horseback, sorting/penning cattle, and livestock‐handling equipment represented high proportions of livestock‐handling injuries among cattle/livestock raisers and cattle dealers. Claims associated with livestock‐handling represented the highest percentage of high‐cost and high‐severity injuries in all three sectors.
Conclusions
Livestock‐handling injuries are a significant problem, more costly, and result in more time off work than other causes of agricultural injuries. There is a strong and compelling need to develop cost‐effective interventions to reduce the number of livestock‐handling injuries in agriculture. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:391–407, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.