Trends in farm fatalities, Saskatchewan, Canada: 1990-2004.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to estimate farm fatality rates and to describe patterns of fatal agricultural injury on Saskatchewan farms from 1990 to 2004.

METHODS

We used data available from the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program (CAISP) for farm work-related fatalities in Saskatchewan, Canada from January 1990 to December 2004.

RESULTS

There were 251 farm work-related fatalities recorded between 1990 and 2004 in Saskatchewan. The majority (92%) of work-related fatalities were in males. The overall fatality rate was 11.9 (95% CI, 2.0-30.1) per 100,000. The overall age-adjusted work-related fatality rate was 32.1 (95% CI, 19.6-44.6) per 100,000 among males and 3.2 (95% CI, 1.3-5.1) per 100,000 among females. Age-adjusted rate increased from 29.3 (95% CI, 6.9-59.3) per 100,000 in 1990-1994 to 37.1 per 100,000 in 2000-2004 in males. Trend analysis of the fatality rate of all cases showed an average annual increase of 3.8% and it was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Bystander and runover injuries contributed to a high proportion of fatalities in children (32.1%) and the elderly population (26.7%).

CONCLUSION

The burden of injury mortality is substantial and there has been a statistically significant upward trend in injury rate over the 15-year study period. High vigilance is needed on the part of adults to prevent a high proportion of runover injuries in children and the elderly population.