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

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

5. 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”

6. Data: Farms and Youth 2.2 million U.S. farms in 1999 1.9 million youth <20 years living/ working on U.S. farms in 1988 128,000 hired adolescent farmworkers (14- 17 years) in 1998 Largest increase in hired youth workers is single males 2000 Ag Statistics, USDA, NAWS

7. Data: Youth Fatalities Annually, 104 children <20 years die Fatality for workers ages 15-19 years is 12.2 per 100,000 FTEs (same as ages 20-54 years) 40% deaths among males are 15-19 years 40% deaths among females are 0-4 years Highest fatality is in crop production Rivara; NCHS data: Adekoya & Pratt

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. Landmark Events: Children, Agriculture, Health and Safety 1947 - Full-time farm safety specialist hired - emphasis on youth 1950 - National FFA initiated Chapter Safety Awards 1962 - National Safety Council initiated Youth Safety Awards 1988 - Farm Safety 4 Just Kids formed 1989 - Successful Farming reported “We Kill Too Many Farm Kids”

13. Landmark Events (cont.) 1992 - Child Agricultural Injury Prevention Symposium issued proceedings 1995 - Progressive Farmer began Farm Safety Camp initiative 1996 - U.S. Congress adopted National Action Plan: Children and Agriculture 1997 - NIOSH launched National Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention Initiative

14. Landmark Events (cont.) 1997 - National Children’s Center for Rural & Agricultural Health & Safety established 1998 - GAO “Child Labor in Agriculture” report issued 1998 - NRC “Protecting Youth at Work” report issued

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Policy Implications (cont.) Recommendations in 1998-2000 –“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

24. 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

25. 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

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