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Statistics
Agriculture Industry Statistics 2005-2009
In 2009, 4,859 employers reported payroll in this industry; a 1.8% decrease over the prior year.
| Year | STD/ LTD/ Fatal Claims |
Claim Costs Paid* | Work Days Paid* | Injury Rate** | Person Years | STD Duration (Avg. Days Lost per Claim) | Serious Injuries *** |
Fatal- ities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 743 | $8,962,742 | 41,727 | 3.4 | 20,595 | 66 | 282 | 3 |
| 2006 | 701 | $9,188,133 | 36,926 | 3.5 | 19,353 | 61 | 298 | 3 |
| 2007 | 737 | $8,419,849 | 34,899 | 3.6 | 19,348 | 56 | 260 | 3 |
| 2008 | 626 | $10,521,232 | 33,233 | 3.2 | 19,222 | 57 | 248 | 4 |
| 2009 | 519 | $8,003,959 | 35,627 | N/A | N/A | 70 | 219 | 3 |
| 2005 to 2009 | 3326 | $45,095,915 | 182,412 | N/A | N/A | 62 | 1307 | 16 |
| 2005 to 2009 % Change | -30% | -11% | -15% | N/A | N/A | 5% | N/A | N/A |
* The Claim Cost Paid and Work Days Paid relate to the claims from all years of injury and are not just the results of the given year's claims.
** Injury Rate is the number of Non-Health Care Only (Non-HCO) claims per 100 person years of employment (estimated FTEs).
*** Serious Injuries include claims with 28 or more work days paid, health care costs in excess of the equivalent of 28 or more days paid, a fatality, or one of the 275 selected ICD9 codes, and is first-paid within the month of injury or the three months following.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Injury Rate Trend 2005-2009
The Injury Rate for Agriculture is slightly higher than the Injury Rate for all BC industries combined. Both have remained relatively stable between 2005 and 2008. 2009 has seen decreases across most industries.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Claims and Employment Trends
Non-HCO claims dropped significantly between 2007 and 2009, while Person Years saw it's biggest decrease in 2006..
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
STD Duration
The Average STD Duration between 2005 and 2009 for the Agriculture Industry was 62 days per claim, while the all-BC rate was only 48 days.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Agriculture Industry CUs 2005-2009
STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| CU | CU Name | # Claims | % Claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 701018 | Ornamental Nursery | 709 | 21.3 |
| 701012 | Greenhouse | 678 | 20.4 |
| 701008 | Farm Labour Supply or Farm Services | 300 | 9.0 |
| 701022 | Ranch | 241 | 7.2 |
| 701005 | Dairy Farming | 221 | 6.6 |
| 701017 | Orchard | 215 | 6.5 |
| 701003 | Berry Farming | 133 | 4.0 |
| 701025 | Vegetable Farming | 123 | 3.7 |
| 701020 | Poultry Farming and Related Services | 113 | 3.4 |
| 701023 | Horse Ranching, Raising, and Breeding | 109 | 3.3 |
| 701016 | White Mushroom Farming | 92 | 2.8 |
| 701019 | Poultry Catching | 64 | 1.9 |
| 701021 | Poultry Hatchery | 52 | 1.6 |
| 701006 | Egg Farming | 44 | 1.3 |
| 701010 | Fur Bearing Animal Farming | 34 | 1.0 |
| 701014 | Hog Farming | 34 | 1.0 |
| 701013 | Hay or Seed Farming | 31 | 0.9 |
| 701009 | Feed Lot or Stockyard | 30 | 0.9 |
| 701026 | Vineyard | 28 | 0.8 |
| 701004 | Composting | 22 | 0.7 |
| 701002 | Apiary | 13 | 0.4 |
| 701001 | Artificial Insemination or Animal Breeding | 11 | 0.3 |
| 701011 | Grain Farming | 11 | 0.3 |
| 701024 | Sod or Turf Nursery | 11 | 0.3 |
| 701027 | Wild Plant Harvesting | 7 | 0.2 |
| Total | 3326 | 100 |
Half of the claims in the Agriculture industry are related to Ornamental Nurseries, Greenhouses, and Farm Labour Supply.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Occupations
STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| Occupation | # Claims | % Claims |
|---|---|---|
| NURSERY & GREENHOUSE WORKERS: GARDENER, GROUNDS KEEPER (EXCEPT GOLF COURSE), HOTHOUSE WORKER, INTERIOR PLANTSCAPER | 1,269 |
38% |
| GENERAL FARM WORKERS: COWBOY/GIRL, GRAINFARM WORKER, CATTLE RANCH WORKER, BEEF FARM WORKER, VEGETABLE FARM WORKER | 706 |
21% |
| FARMERS: CATTLE RANCHER, EGG PRODUCER, BREEDER - DOMESTIC ANIMALS, RANCHER, SEED GROWER, SOD FARMER, VEGETABLE GROWER | 238 |
7% |
| HARVESTING LABOURERS: APPLE PICKER, NUT HARVESTER, BERRY PICKER, FRUIT PICKER, HARVEST HAND, VEGATABLE PICKER | 160 |
5% |
| DAIRY FARM WORKER | 102 |
3% |
| SPECIALIZED LIVESTOCK WORKERS: SHEPHERD,STABLE BOSS, FARM BOSS, HERDSMANWOMAN, HORSE TRAINER, DAIRY/CATTLE HERDSPERSON | 69 |
2% |
| POULTRY FARM WORKER, HATCHERY WORKER | 64 |
2% |
| TRUCK DRIVERS: TRANSPORT, LONG HAUL, LONG DISTANCE, BULK GOODS, TRACTOR-TAILER, TRUCKER | 60 |
2% |
| POULTRY CLEANER, POULTRY WORKER, POULTRYDRESSER, POULTRY PREPARER, POULTRY PLUCKER, POULTRY PICKER - FOOD PROCESSING | 48 |
1% |
| DAIRY FARMER | 38 |
1% |
| Others | 572 |
17% |
| Total | 3,326 |
100% |
Nursery, Greenhouse, and General Farm Workers account for more than half of the claims in the Agriculture Industry.
Age and Gender
% STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| Age Range | Male | Female | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-24 | 17% | 19% | 17% |
| 25-34 | 22% | 19% | 21% |
| 35-44 | 23% | 21% | 22% |
| 45-54 | 20% | 27% | 22% |
| 55-64 | 14% | 12% | 13% |
| 65+ | 5% | 2% | 4% |
| Combined | 63% | 37% | 100% |
Almost two thirds of these injuries were to males, while one in six were to young workers.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Accident and Injury Types
Accident Types
% STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| Claims | Claims Cost | Days Paid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Struck by object | 15% | Fall to Lower Level | 21% | Fall to Lower Level | 21% | ||
| Overexertion | 14% | Struck by object | 12% | Fall on Same Level | 14% | ||
| Fall to Lower Level | 13% | Highway accident | 10% | Overexertion | 11% | ||
| Fall on Same Level | 12% | Fall on Same Level | 9% | Struck by object | 10% | ||
| Bodily reaction | 6% | Overexertion | 8% | Highway accident | 6% | ||
| Others | 39% | Others | 39% | Others | 38% | ||
Injury Types
% STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| Claims | Claims Cost | Days Paid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprains, strains, tears | 42% | Fractures | 36% | Sprains, strains, tears | 35% | ||
| Fractures | 15% | Sprains, strains, tears | 23% | Fractures | 34% | ||
| Bruises, contusions | 12% | Other traumatic injuries | 5% | Bruises, contusions | 5% | ||
| Cuts, lacerations | 9% | Asphyxiations/suffocations | 4% | Dislocations | 4% | ||
| Nonspecific injuries | 3% | Amputations | 3% | Cuts, lacerations | 3% | ||
| Others | 19% | Others | 28% | Others | 19% | ||
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Most Common Accidents
STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
- Overexertion while lifting boxes, crates, pots, buckets, bags, bundles
- Overexertion while pulling/pushing carts, boxes, crates
- Struck by cattle, horses
- Struck by knives
- Struck by doors, gates
- Falling from ladder
- Falling/jumping from nonmoving cart/tractor/vehicle
- Tripping over skids, ropes, pipes, pallets, platforms, blocks, etc.
- Slipping on ice/water
- Falling while carrying a heavy object
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Serious Injury Claims, 2005-2009
Between 2005 and 2009 there were 1,307 Serious Injury Claims* in the Agriculture Industry. Serious Injuries represent 43% of the claims in this industry, as compared to one-third for all industries combined.
| Accident Type | |
|---|---|
| Fall to Lower Level | 19% |
| Ergonomic (MSI) | 14% |
| Fall on Same Level | 14% |
| Struck by object | 12% |
| Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects | 7% |
| Others | 33% |
| Injury Type | |
|---|---|
| Sprains, strains, tears | 37% |
| Fractures | 32% |
| Bruises, contusions | 6% |
| Cuts, lacerations | 5% |
| Dislocations | 3% |
| Others | 17% |
Serious injury claim characteristics are generally similar to those of non-serious injuries, although the serious injury claims in this industry are slightly more likely to involve falls and fractures.
*Serious Injuries include claims with 28 or more work days paid, health care costs in excess of the equivalent of 28 or more days paid, a fatality, or one of 275 selected ICD9 codes, and is first-paid within the month of injury or the three months following.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Other Injury Factors
Sources of Injury
% STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| Sources of Injury | |
|---|---|
| Floors, walkways, ground surfaces | 23.39% |
| Person-injured or ill worker | 11.33% |
| Containers-nonpressurized | 8.45% |
| Animals and animal products | 7.16% |
| Highway vehicle, motorized | 4.48% |
| Building materials-solid elements | 4.39% |
| Handtools-nonpowered | 4.06% |
| Plants, trees, vegetation-not processed | 3.82% |
| Others | 32.92% |
Body Parts Injured
% STD/LTD/Fatal Claims, 2005-2009
| Body Parts Injured | |
|---|---|
| Back, including spine, spinal cord | 18.22% |
| Leg(s) | 9.59% |
| Finger(s), fingernail(s) | 9.56% |
| Multiple Body Parts | 8.78% |
| Wrist(s) | 7.52% |
| Shoulder, including clavicle, scapula, and trapezius muscle if shoulder is mentioned | 7.04% |
| Ankle(s) | 5.83% |
| Arm(s) | 4.90% |
| Others | 28.56% |
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Accepted Fatalities
| Accepted Fatalities, 2007-March 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Farmer | Motor vehicle accident |
| 2007 | Farm Worker | Motor vehicle accident |
| 2007 | Farm Worker | Motor vehicle accident |
| 2008 | Ranch Manager | Struck by immersion pump |
| 2008 | Farm Hand | Pump house - oxygen depletion |
| 2008 | Farm Hand | Pump house - oxygen depletion |
| 2008 | Farm Worker | Pump house - oxygen depletion |
| 2009 | Nursery Labourer | ATV accident - collided with semi |
| 2009 | Herdsman | Overturned tractor |
| 2009 | Farm Worker | Overturned tractor |
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010
Terms of Reference
Accepted Claims or #STD/LTD/FTL Claims refers to the number of short-term disability, long-term disability, and fatal claims accepted in the year (for all years of injury). It does not include health-care-only claims.
Assessable Payroll is the payroll used by WorkSafeBC in calculating the employer's assessment. It is the sum of the year's payroll for each employee, limited by the year's Maximum Assessable Wage.
Claim Cost Paid is the total health care payments, short term disability (STD) payments, vocational rehabilitation payments, long term disability (LTD) reserves and one-time cash awards, and survivor benefit reserves and one-time cash awards charged in the year regardless of year of injury.
Classification (CU) is the lowest level of industry grouping used by WorkSafeBC.
Employer Count refers to the number of employers registered with WorkSafeBC in the Classification Units indicated and reporting payroll in the year specified.
Ergonomic (MSI) or Musculoskeletal Injury refers to a combination of overexertion and repetitive motion accident types.
Fatalities are the number of fatality claims accepted for survivor or fatal benefits.
Injury Rate is the number of Non-Health Care Only (Non-HCO) claims per 100 person years of employment (estimated FTEs).
Non-HCO Claims refers to the total number of Non Health Care Only claims. A Non-HCO claim must have a Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD) or Fatal benefit in the year or in the following 3 months.
Person Years of employment for an employer are estimated by dividing the employer's payroll by the average wage rate for the industry the employer operates in. The assumption being made is that wage rates are the same for all employers in the industry. For example, a person year is equivalent to one person working fulltime at an occupation for a one-year period.
Serious Injuries include all Non-HCO claims first-paid in the month of injury or in the following three months which also meet at least one of the following criteria: 28 or more days of wage loss in the period; health care costs equivalent to 28 or more days of wage loss; a fatality; one of 275 ICD9 serious codes.
Small Business refers to employers having fewer than 20 person years of employment (but more than zero).
STD (Short-term Disability) Duration represents an estimate of the average of STD Days paid for each STD claim. It is calculated according to the methodology developed by the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), and is based on all STD days paid in the year including days lost on injuries that occurred prior to the start of the 12-month period. Days arising from rehabilitation payments are excluded from the calculation.
Work Days Paid is the total short term disability (STD) days and rehabilitation income continuity (code R) days paid in the year regardless of the year of injury.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis Data Mart as of March 31st, 2010.
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