Occupational health

Death on the farm

Suspicions that farming is one of the most dangerous occupations persist, and some countries have already completed studies proving this fact. However, until the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program (CAISP) was launched in 1996, there was no way to track farm injuries nationally and no way of knowing how great a toll fatal farm injuries take in this country.

Using data gathered by CAISP, researchers found that 503 Canadians died from work-related farm injuries between 1991 and 1995. The overall death rate of 11.6 per 100,000 farm population makes agriculture the fourth most dangerous industry in Canada, behind only mining, logging and forestry and construction. Men, particularly men older than 60 years of age, were the most susceptible to fatal farm injuries, and farm owner-operators accounted for 60.2% of all people killed.

The authors cautioned that their findings are likely conservative and that the true number of farm-related deaths may be much higher. They recommend that injury-prevention specialists focus on high-risk populations and on specific hazards posed by agricultural vehicles and machinery. [CMAJ 1999;160(13):1843-8]

Preventing hockey injuries

In his role as team physician for the St. John's Maple Leafs, farm team for Toronto's NHL squad, Dr. Richard Barter has seen his share of injuries. Barter highlighted two incidents in which skate blades caused potentially life-threatening injuries to players in Newfoundland. The issue is not new. Ten years ago Clint Malarchuk, then one of the NHL's premier goaltenders, narrowly escaped death when a skate opened a gash in his neck. That incident led the governing body of junior hockey in Canada to mandate that all junior hockey players wear neck protection. For his part, Barter recommends increased vigilance on the part of referees to make sure equipment is adequate. [CMAJ 1999;161(12):1535-6]