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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, 2016-2020


Background

The agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector is comprised of establishments engaged in growing crops, logging, and raising or harvesting animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats.

As of 2020, there was an average of 1,241,147 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 108,759 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry during 2020, there were 45,900 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 18,800 had days away from work (DAFW), 11,800 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 15,300 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 4.6.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting in private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Soreness, pain

4,050

Sprains, strains, tears

3,640

Fractures

1,720

Bruises, contusions

1,720

Cuts, lacerations

1,340

Part of body affected

Hand

2,790

Body systems

2,400

Back

1,850

Multiple body parts

1,630

Knee

1,390

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

2,770

Struck by object or equipment

2,610

Fall on same level

2,520

Animal and insect related incidents

2,060

Fall to lower level

1,380

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 515 for the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry during 2020, compared to 577 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

596584574577515

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

5054505736

Transportation incidents

266277274265250

Fires and explosions

1316146--

Falls, slips, trips

4138353434

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

3423334744

Contact with objects and equipment

188175167167146

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories.

[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Employment data come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: January 5, 2022