Occupational Injuries Among Agricultural Workers 51 to 61 Years Old: A National Study

Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative surveyof Americans 51 to 61 yrs old, we examined risk factors for occupational injuriesamong agricultural workers. Of the 9,756 age-appropriate Americans in the HRScohort, we studied the 237 farm operators, farm workers, and workers in otheragricultural occupations. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that agriculturalworkers differ from all other occupations in the pattern of risk factors associated withoccupational injuries. While heavy lifting and poor sight were risk factors for bothagricultural workers and other workers, self-employment was a risk factor foragricultural workers and a protective factor for other workers. Poor hearing and a jobrequiring good vision were risk factors for other workers, but were protective foragricultural workers. Depression and dissatisfaction with life circumstances were morestrongly associated with injuries among agricultural workers than among other workers.