Occupational ATV-related injuries in Washington State's agricultural industry, 2004–2008

Abstract

Background All-terrain vehicles (ATV) are used in many work applications and are associated with work-related injury and deaths. Objective To describe injuries and WC costs among agriculture workers hurt using ATVs at work. Methods Washington (WA) State Workers' Compensation (WC) State Fund data (2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) were used to identify suspected ATV injury claims; medical records were reviewed for work-related ATV injury. Emphasis was on Crop Production-CP, Animal Production-AP, and Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry-SA workers.Results 251 claims were identified with 55% from workers in CP (109), AP (18) or SA (13). Total indemnity ($675 782) and medical ($651 496) costs represented 70% of total compensable costs incurred. Fractures were the most common (49%) injury (median medical cost ∼$5700). Nearly 37% (18) of claims identified overturn/rollover, followed by caught in/struck by ATV at 27% (13). Highest median indemnity costs were for workers who slipped/fell ($11 217) from the ATV. Highest median medical costs were to workers caught in/struck by the ATV ($10 081); this injury had the highest median number of loss days (217). The 5-year injury rate among CP/ AP workers was 57/ 100 000 FTEs. Conclusions This study is the first to describe injuries to agriculture workers using ATVs at work. Types of injuries events were similar to patterns for ATV recreational use. Inj Prev

ATV-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims in Montana, 2007–2012

“…The present study found fractures as the most common injury type, occurring in 27% of cases, with ATV rollover being the most common type of loss of control event, occurring in nearly 30% of cases. Their study, which analyzed ATV injuries in Washington's agriculture industry, found fractures as the most common injury type (49% of injuries), with rollover/overturn being the most common type of loss of control event, responsible for 37% percent of injuries [5].…”

“…All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were introduced to the United States agricultural community by the Honda Motor Company in 1970 [1][2][3][4][5]. While first considered an occupational vehicle for agriculture operations [1,5], ATVs quickly developed into a recreational vehicle [5]. At the time of introduction, ATVs could have either three or four wheels [1], although, due to legislation passed in 1988, are now sold exclusively as four-wheeled vehicles [6].…”

“…The most common type of ATV LOC is a rollover event [5,10]. A review of literature suggests the most common types of injuries sustained in an ATV LOC event are fractures and dislocations, followed by strains and sprains [1].…”