Livestock-handling injuries in agriculture: an analysis of Colorado workers' compensation data.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have reported that livestock-handling injuries are among the most severe of agricultural injuries. This study identifies the costs, characteristics, and contributing factors associated with livestock-handling injuries among Colorado dairy farmers, cattle/livestock raisers, and cattle dealers.


METHODS
A 10-year (1997-2006) history of Colorado's workers' compensation claims data was used for analysis. Descriptive analyses of livestock-handling injury claims were performed. Claim cost analysis was also conducted. The agent-host-environment epidemiological model was used to analyze injury event descriptions.


RESULTS
A total of 1,114 livestock-handling claims were analyzed. Claims associated with milking parlor tasks represented nearly 50% of injuries among dairy workers. Claims associated with riding horseback, sorting/penning cattle, and livestock-handling equipment represented high proportions of livestock-handling injuries among cattle/livestock raisers and cattle dealers. Claims associated with livestock-handling represented the highest percentage of high-cost and high-severity injuries in all three sectors.


CONCLUSIONS
Livestock-handling injuries are a significant problem, more costly, and result in more time off work than other causes of agricultural injuries. There is a strong and compelling need to develop cost-effective interventions to reduce the number of livestock-handling injuries in agriculture.
Douphrate
David I
DI
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1681, USA. david.douphrate@colostate.edu
Rosecrance
John C
JC
Stallones
Lorann
L
Reynolds
Stephen J
SJ
Gilkey
David P
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult