Safety awareness among New York farmers

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to assess the health status and safety practices among year-round adult farm workers and residents and included a telephone interview survey of 1,727 persons from 552 farms. Methods: Logistic regression was used to analyze four safety questions. Results: Among 541 farm owner/operators significant predictors of making substitutions in the use of chemicals and major changes to equipment include younger age, more persons assisting on the farm, and higher gross sales. Having training is associated with having more than a high school education. Among all participants the perception that personal protective equipment are useful is associated with being younger, male, an owner/operator or worker, and having at least a high school education. Conclusions: These findings suggest that older and less educated farmers should be targeted for health and safety programs. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.