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Baseline incidence of ill health in agriculture in Great Britain

This report reviews existing information on baseline levels of ill health in agriculture. Information on ill health in the industry was identified using a wide ranging search strategy, including searches of online bibliographical databases, web search engines and reports from expert committees and researchers in the area of agriculture and health. Papers identified were then subject to critical review. Overall, the review showed that there is very little current information available on the prevalence or incidence of occupational ill health in the agriculture industry. Incidence data are available only for zoonoses and skin disease, with some prevalence data available primarily for musculo-skeletal and respiratory conditions. Mortality data and cancer data are invariably reported as proportional increases rather than as death or incidence rates, because of a lack of baseline population data. Information gaps could be filled by expansion of existing recording schemes in agricultural areas, by further analysis of existing mortality data or by new studies of specific high risk groups (for example, forestry workers), with a view to assessing the baseline frequency, and measuring the success of interventions over a period. This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Agriculture has one of the worst fatal accident records of any industry, while such issues as the physical nature of the work, exposure to weather, noise and vibration, contact with animals and exposure to hazardous chemicals pose threats to the health of the workers in the industry. In order to (i) assist in meeting the Public Service Agreement target of reducing the incidence of new cases of ill health and (ii) to help to evaluate and support the Workplace Health Direct initiative, the Health and Safety Executive need to establish baselines for the annual incidence of work-related ill health in the industry. The current study was therefore commissioned to carry out a review of existing information on baseline levels of ill health in agriculture. The objectives of the study were (i) to identify and analyse existing information and evidence of defined …