Using Past and Present to Map Future Actions March 2, 2001 Baltimore, MD Childhood Agricultural Health and Safety

Outline Reference Points in Agriculture at Risk Data Landmark Events Current Initiatives Challenges, Gaps, and Controversies Policy Implications Future Directions

Reference Points: Agriculture at Risk (1988) Pesticides: “figures do not take into account… toxicological data… special populations (e.g. infants or children)” Education: “recommend improvement of educational programs for at-risk populations…farmers, farmworkers, and their families”

Data: Farms and Youth 2.2 million U.S. farms in million youth <20 years living/ working on U.S. farms in ,000 hired adolescent farmworkers ( years) in 1998 Largest increase in hired youth workers is single males 2000 Ag Statistics, USDA, NAWS

Data: Youth Fatalities Annually, 104 children <20 years die Fatality for workers ages years is 12.2 per 100,000 FTEs (same as ages years) 40% deaths among males are years 40% deaths among females are 0-4 years Highest fatality is in crop production Rivara; NCHS data: Adekoya & Pratt

Data: Youth Non-Fatal Injuries 32,800 injuries among young workers <20 years including residents and non-residents Farm resident youth account for 72% injuries Injury rate is 1.64/100 FTE for working males Males account for 80% all injuries USDA/NIOSH data

Characteristics of Injured Youth Majority of injured youth are white (non-Hispanic) Most fatalities result from traumatic brain injury Most injuries are contusions, lacerations USDA/NIOSH data; Rivara; MMWR; NCHS data

Cause of Fatalities Farm machinery (including tractors) accounts for 36% deaths Drowning accounts for 27% deaths (highest among very young) Tractors/machinery cause more male deaths Livestock cause more female deaths NCHS data: Adekoya and Pratt

Source of Non-Fatal Injuries 20% ground surfaces 9% animals 6% off road vehicles Hand tools Structures Ag machinery Tractors NIOSH data; MMWR

Landmark Events: Children, Agriculture, Health and Safety Full-time farm safety specialist hired - emphasis on youth National FFA initiated Chapter Safety Awards National Safety Council initiated Youth Safety Awards Farm Safety 4 Just Kids formed Successful Farming reported “We Kill Too Many Farm Kids”

Landmark Events (cont.) Child Agricultural Injury Prevention Symposium issued proceedings Progressive Farmer began Farm Safety Camp initiative U.S. Congress adopted National Action Plan: Children and Agriculture NIOSH launched National Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention Initiative

Landmark Events (cont.) National Children’s Center for Rural & Agricultural Health & Safety established GAO “Child Labor in Agriculture” report issued NRC “Protecting Youth at Work” report issued

Current Initiatives: National Children’s Center, Marshfield, WI Technical assistance and professional training North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks National Adolescent Farmworker Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee Youth Tractor Operator’s Campaign 2001 Summit on Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention

Current Initiatives: Federal NIOSH: Intramural research, surveillance NIOSH: Extramural research NIOSH: Federal Advisory Task Force USDA: State Cooperative Extension Service CDC/NIOSH: Conference support, professional training NIEHS Environmental Health Centers for Children

Current Initiatives: NGOs Farm Safety 4 Just Kids - chapters, resources, training ASH-NET 15 year review of Ag at Risk National Safety Council Ag/Youth Division National SAFE KIDS Campaign Youth-serving organizations (FFA, 4-H) Migrant farmworker advocacy groups University/Medical Center research Other

Current Initiatives: Ag Business Progressive Farmer safety camps Insurance: Certified safe farms Corporate programs, marketing efforts Farm media’s focus on safety Other

Challenges: Farm Population Traditional practices involving youth Changing agriculture and workforce Economic hardship of farmers and workers Resistance to regulatory controls Limited enforcement of safety standards and child labor laws Benefits versus risk debate

Challenges: Safety Professionals Difficult to evaluate educational interventions Limited options for engineering out hazards Multiple programs and limited coordination Competition for resources Few feasible incentives for parental behavior change

Policy Implications NCCAIP 1996 Recommends –Establish, monitor child labor standards to reflect new technologies, practices –Mandate restriction of youth <18 years from operating tractors not equipped with ROPS and seatbelt –Require drivers’ license to operate tractors on public roads –Restrict youth from non-approved passenger areas of tractors and machinery –Increase adherence to laws through enforcement and penalties

Policy Implications (cont.) Recommendations in –“Eliminate Exemptions of Child Labor in Ag Laws” NRC report, DOL, proposed legislation (Harkin) –“Restrict maximum weekly work hours to be consistent with non-ag work hours NRC report

Forecast: Beyond 2001 Fewer “bystander” children exposed More adolescent workers employed Fewer tractor operators <16 years Increased international pressure to minimize child labor Consumer demands to limit ag products harvested by children New research may yield effective interventions

Future Directions: Collaboration Maximize use of electronic communications Share resources, research, and intervention results Modify, adopt NAGCAT Guidelines Convene youth-specific conferences Implement recommendations of 2001 Summit on Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention

We are making progress Lets work together to ensure a bright future for children and agriculture