Younger farm workers are more likely than their older counterparts to suffer an injury on the job, says a new Statistics Canada report.
The study, "Risk Factors Associated with Farm Injuries in Canada", found that operators under the age of 35 were more likely to experience a farm injury during work.
The risk factor declined as workers increased in age.
The findings suggest that farming experience may more than offset the risks of aging when it comes to preventing an injury.
Based on 2001 data, researchers analyzed the relationship between the chances of a farm operator suffering a farm-related injury and the characteristics of the farm and worker.
Workers managing a sizable beef cattle herd or looking after a large area under cultivation were at a higher risk of suffering a farm injury.
Poultry and field crop farm operators were the least likely to suffer an injury.
Injury reports
The study also examined the relationship between reported farm injuries and the amount of hours worked on and off the farm.
Operators who worked fewer than 20 hours a week on a farm were 2.4 times more likely to report an injury compared to those who worked more than 40 hours.
Operators who worked more than 40 hours a week off the farm were also more likely to get injured during farm-related work.
Researchers also found that farm operators aged 55 and over were less likely in 2001 to report an injury than those in younger categories.
The study was conducted as part of "The Agriculture and Rural Working Paper Series".
