
Book Chapters Manuscripts Peer Reviewed Non-Peer Reviewed Conferences and Meetings Presentations Posters	Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center Publicaions Injuries Relating to Tobacco Farming in Kentucky TW Struttmann, D Caudill, D Reed National Occupational Injury Research Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA; Oct 2000. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States. Although the investigation of agricultural injuries by segmenting a particular commodity is not new, none have concentrated on tobacco production. In 1997, tobacco production in the U.S. was reported at 1,747,702,321 lbs. Kentucky produced 30.4% of this on over half its 82,273 farms. Tobacco farming is labor intensive, involving several phases of production, each exposing the farmer and farm family to different modes of injury. In two agricultural regions, 2,911 agricultural injury cases were identified through emergency departments between 1992 and 1999. Of these cases, 703 were related to tobacco production. Analysis of the tobacco injuries shows the median age was 31 years. More than half of the injuries occurred in August and September. Falls were the leading cause of injury, comprising 27.1% of the total. Injuries from edged/piercing instruments were next with 24.3%. Seventeen percent of the injuries were to children under 18 years. There was an increase in the number of Hispanic workers, from 3% in 1992 to 14% in 1999. There were five fatalities, three of which were from tractor overturns. The mean hospital charge was $489, with a median of $213 and a range of $8 - $25,778. This descriptive study can be used in the development of appropriate prevention strategies for tobacco production. Many of the injuries sustained to the upper and lower limbs were due to the tobacco spears used during the harvest. These injuries could be avoided by using leather chaps on lower legs and leather gloves with gauntlets for the hands. Falls from height could be reduced by using single-story barns or curing structures such as post-row frameworks. Prevention measures must also focus on migrant workers that are affected by language and cultural barriers. Comments to Mark Schneider, Last Modified: July 9, 2001 by JP Copyright ©2000, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center Terms, Conditions & Privacy Statement

Kentucky Injury Prevention
and Research Center Publicaions

Injuries Relating to Tobacco Farming in Kentucky

TW Struttmann, D Caudill, D Reed

National Occupational Injury Research Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA; Oct 2000.

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States. Although the investigation of agricultural injuries by segmenting a particular commodity is not new, none have concentrated on tobacco production. In 1997, tobacco production in the U.S. was reported at 1,747,702,321 lbs. Kentucky produced 30.4% of this on over half its 82,273 farms.

Tobacco farming is labor intensive, involving several phases of production, each exposing the farmer and farm family to different modes of injury. In two agricultural regions, 2,911 agricultural injury cases were identified through emergency departments between 1992 and 1999. Of these cases, 703 were related to tobacco production.

Analysis of the tobacco injuries shows the median age was 31 years. More than half of the injuries occurred in August and September. Falls were the leading cause of injury, comprising 27.1% of the total. Injuries from edged/piercing instruments were next with 24.3%. Seventeen percent of the injuries were to children under 18 years. There was an increase in the number of Hispanic workers, from 3% in 1992 to 14% in 1999. There were five fatalities, three of which were from tractor overturns. The mean hospital charge was $489, with a median of $213 and a range of $8 - $25,778.

This descriptive study can be used in the development of appropriate prevention strategies for tobacco production. Many of the injuries sustained to the upper and lower limbs were due to the tobacco spears used during the harvest. These injuries could be avoided by using leather chaps on lower legs and leather gloves with gauntlets for the hands. Falls from height could be reduced by using single-story barns or curing structures such as post-row frameworks. Prevention measures must also focus on migrant workers that are affected by language and cultural barriers.

Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center Publicaions

Injuries Relating to Tobacco Farming in Kentucky

TW Struttmann, D Caudill, D Reed

Kentucky Injury Prevention
and Research Center Publicaions