In 2023, 33 people died of injuries suffered in farm-related incidents in Pennsylvania, according to farm-safety specialists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, who emphasized the need for education and policies to reduce risk for workers and farm-family members.
To help identify hazards and risks associated with production, Penn State Extension’s Agricultural Safety and Health team produces annual summaries of Pennsylvania’s farm fatalities. The team, which includes experts from the college’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, recently released the “2023 Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary.”
The 33 farm-related deaths in the state last year was a decrease from 2022’s 37 fatalities but higher than the 10-year annual average of 28. In line with previous years and national data, fatal incidents disproportionately affected young children and older adults. Six victims were under 10 years old, and 13 were at least 65 years old. Three of the five victims aged five or younger were presumed to be Anabaptist — which includes the Amish — and more than 80% of the victims were male, as seen in past years.
Transportation incidents, which include tractor overturns and roadway crashes, are the leading cause of death for farmers and farm workers across the country. Pennsylvania data continues to reflect these national statistics, with 13 of the 33 fatal incidents connected to vehicles. Five of the 2023 victims died from injuries related to farm tractors, and all these incidents involved the operator being pinned or trapped under a tractor, with at least three involving overturns.
Although farmers cannot avoid all risks in an unpredictable farm environment, many tractor-related injuries and deaths are preventable, the team noted. Rollover protection structures, or ROPS, are 99.9% effective in reducing serious injuries and deaths from tractor rollovers when combined with the use of a seatbelt.
“There have been cases where a farmer used one of our rollover systems and subsequently survived an accident when the tractor would have otherwise crushed them,” said Judd Michael, professor of agricultural and biological engineering in the college.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Education