Determining the agricultural health and safety needs of agricultural producers using a survey of Utah Farm Bureau members

Injuries and occupational illnesses are far more common among agriculturists than in other occupations. The need to reduce and mitigate the risks associated with agriculture is obvious. Past studies in Utah have provided valuable information to planners and educators, but were dependent on data collected from a single source, emergency room logs.;This study addresses the main weaknesses of the previous Utah studies, because it draws data directly from the source, farmers and ranchers in Utah, and includes all modes of treatment. The rates of injury and illness found in this survey-based study are significantly higher than previous studies on the state and national levels.;As in previous studies, horses were found to be the single most dangerous exposure for agriculturists in Utah in terms of injuries per unit time of exposure, followed by servicing agricultural machinery. Agricultural safety educators and planners should note these findings and make efforts to address them.