OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND ILLNESSES AMONG WASHINGTON-STATE AGRICULTURAL-WORKERS

In Washington state 29 451 workers' compensation claims were filed by farm workers between 1982 and 1986. Five percent of claimants were under 18 years of age, including 1.3% under the age of 16. Agricultural workers were found to be at higher risk than other workers in the state for fatal injury (relative risk [RR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-3.7), sprains and strains (RR = 1.4, CI = 1.3-1.4), fractures (RR = 2.3, CI = 2.2-2.4), dislocations (RR = 1.9, CI = 1.7-2.2), concussions (RR = 1.9, CI = 1.6-2.3), amputations (RR = 2.5, CI = 2.0-3.1), dermatitis (RR = 4.3, CI = 4.0-4.7), systemic poisoning (RR = 3.4, CI = 3.1-3.7), respiratory disease (RR = 1.7, CI = 1.0-2.9), and tendonitis (RR = 1.2, CI = 1.1-1.4).