Citation

Landsteiner AM, McGovern PM, Nyman JA, Alexander BH, Lindgren PG, Williams AN. J. Agromed. 2016; 21(2): 171-177.

Affiliation

a Center for Occupational Health and Safety , Minnesota Department of Health , St. Paul , Minnesota , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1059924X.2016.1143904

PMID

26959096

Abstract

Only 2% of Minnesota's employed population worked in agriculture between the years 2005-2012. However, this small portion of the state's employed population accounted for 31% of total work related deaths in the state during that same time period. During a similar time period, 2007-2013, the contribution of agriculture to Minnesota's Gross Domestic Product increased from approximately 1.5% to about 2.3%.This paper describes the economic impact of injuries related to farm work between the years 2004-2010. Using hospital discharge data and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) estimates of the number of injuries and fatalities related to agricultural work were compiled. A cost of illness model was applied to these injury and fatality estimates to calculate the related indirect and direct costs in 2010 dollars. Estimated total costs, in 2010 dollars, ranged between $21 and $31 million annually over the seven year study period. The majority of the costs were attributable to indirect costs, such as lost productivity at work and home. Fatal injuries accrued the largest proportion of the estimated costs followed by hospitalized and non-hospitalized injuries. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the impact each selected data source had upon the cost estimate. The magnitude of the costs associated with these injuries argues for better surveillance of injury related to agriculture to prioritize resources and evaluate intervention and prevention programs.

Language: en