[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] An investigation into injuries sustained during work found that falls were the most common accidents among female farmers.
The Rural Development Administration announced that the results of the "2019 Agricultural Workers' Occupational Injury Survey," conducted to understand the status of injuries related to agricultural activities and to establish prevention policies, showed this trend. The Agricultural Workers' Occupational Injury Survey is a nationally approved statistic based on the "Act on Safety Insurance and Safety Accident Prevention for Farmers and Fishermen (Article 15)" and is conducted every two years. This survey was conducted from July 4 to September 4, 2019, targeting agricultural workers aged 19 and older living in 10,020 sample rural households nationwide.
The survey results showed that 2.7% of agricultural workers experienced occupational injuries requiring at least one day off work within a year. Among injury types, falls accounted for the highest proportion at 40.8%, followed by physical reactions due to excessive force or movement at 13.7%, and single-vehicle accidents involving riding agricultural machinery at 12.7%. Notably, falls occurred more frequently among women (56.3%) than men (27.3%).
By age group, injury rates were 0.2% for those under 50, 1.6% for those in their 50s, 3.0% for those in their 60s, and 3.7% for those aged 70 and above, indicating that injury rates increased with age. The locations where injuries occurred were most commonly fields (39.0%), followed by rice paddies at 15.7%, farm roads at 12.1%, facilities at 7.8%, and orchards at 7.0%.
Regarding the circumstances of injuries, 60.9% occurred during farming work, 15.3% during movement related to farming work, 10.1% during post-work cleanup, and 7.9% during preparation for farming work. Injuries related to agricultural machinery accounted for 31.0% of all occupational injuries. Among these, injuries caused by tillers accounted for the highest proportion at 41.7%, followed by tractors at 19.1%, cultivators at 6.7%, trucks (cargo vehicles) at 6.4%, and brush cutters at 6.0%.
The results of this survey have been made publicly available through the National Statistical Portal for anyone to access. They will be used for policies aimed at preventing occupational injuries among agricultural workers in accordance with the Basic Plan for Agricultural Work Safety Accident Prevention (2020?2024). The Rural Development Administration has produced and distributed videos and booklets to prevent falls, which are the most problematic occupational injuries among agricultural workers, and also provides information on the ‘Agricultural Worker Safety 365 (http://farmer.rda.go.kr)’ website.
Lee Kyungsook, head of the Agricultural Worker Safety and Health Team at the Rural Development Administration, stated, "We are expanding related research and development to solve safety accident issues related to farming work," adding, "We will do our best to ensure the occupational safety and health of agricultural workers, who are the main agents of agriculture, to maintain people-centered sustainable agriculture and rural communities."
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