By Scott L. Miley, Herald Bulletin Associate Features Editor
Nearly 44 percent of all injuries that resulted in the death of an older farming worker took place while they were operating vehicles or machinery, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report of farming accidents from 1995 to 2002.
More than half of the injuries were due to overturns. The study looked at fatalities for those 55 and older.
Approximately 14 percent of fatalities involving the operation of farm vehicles occurred while a farming worker fell from a vehicle and then was struck by his or her own vehicle, according to the report published in October 2005.
Workers in farming occupations operated tractors in an majority of the 974 fatal injuries.
There are commercially available resources to protect a driver in a rollover such as roll bars or protective cabs. However, there are no safety standards that mandate those devices for farm owners.
