Safety and Injury of US-Certified Organic Crop Producers in the Southwest Region.

OBJECTIVES: Literature on occupational risks among organic farmers is scarce. This study explored safety practices and non-fatal injuries among organic producers, and the role of sociodemographic, work, and farm characteristics on safety and injury. METHODS: Cross sectional survey of certified organic crop producers in the Southwest (SW) region of the United States (US). The Organic Integrity Database was used for recruitment. Data were collected through an electronic and paper survey. RESULTS: Analyses were conducted on 115 cases; response rate was estimated at 25%. A high majority of respondents owned their operation and were younger than 65 years, male, educated beyond high-school, and non-Hispanic whites. Less than half had more than 10 years of experience in organic farming; one-third worked off the farm year-round. Safety practices were very basic despite the widespread use of equipment and machinery, and limited to wearing normal clothing and apparel such hats and glasses. About half of respondents (52.6%) reported non-fatal injuries in the past year; and one-third (32.7%) time lost due to injuries. The overall cumulative incidence rate was estimated at 5.3 injuries per 10 workers within the last year. The injury rate decreased with hours worked. Significant differences were found on gender and education level and safety practices, with female respondents and the more educated being more proactive in practicing safety. Those working less than 40 h/week, in farms smaller than 50 acres, using light machinery or compact utility tractors, and tractors without roll-over protection reported significantly higher injury frequency compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: This study contributes unique data on an essential workforce not captured by current occupational injury and illness surveillance systems. It identifies important personal and contextual factors that may contribute to safety and injury in this population. The findings indicate the need to promote safety and prevent injuries that result in work time lost. This study may also inform future occupational safety and health research and practice, including surveillance, injury prevention programs that target certain workers and production practices, and policies that support and protect the organic farmer.

COVID-19 Prevalence and Prevention Behaviors Among US Certified Organic Producers.

OBJECTIVE: There is a scarcity of data on the impact of the pandemic in farmers. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of certified organic producers through a 28-item self-reported paper or electronic survey. Analysis included descriptive statistics, Cronbach α to measure the internal consistency of a six-item prevention scale, and correlation and regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 344 records were computed. Infection rate among producers was 6.4%. Sex and farm size were the most statistically significant predictors of prevention behaviors. Women reported more use of prevention methods (ß = 0.333, P < 0.001) and those with 50 or more certified organic acres reporting less use of prevention methods (ß = -0.228, P < 0.001). Mask wearing was significantly related to lower COVID-19 prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Determining prevalence and understanding how farmers follow prevention behaviors is essential for health care and public health interventions and policies.