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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities > Publications > Snapshots

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, 2016-2020

Background

The agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector is comprised of establishments engaged in growing crops, logging, and raising or harvesting animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats.

As of 2020, there was an average of 1,241,147 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 108,759 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry during 2020, there were 45,900 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 18,800 had days away from work (DAFW), 11,800 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 15,300 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 4.6.

View data

Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting in private industry, 2020
Case characteristic^[1]	Number of cases
Nature of injury or illness
Soreness, pain	4,050
Sprains, strains, tears	3,640
Fractures	1,720
Bruises, contusions	1,720
Cuts, lacerations	1,340
Part of body affected
Hand	2,790
Body systems	2,400
Back	1,850
Multiple body parts	1,630
Knee	1,390
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	2,770
Struck by object or equipment	2,610
Fall on same level	2,520
Animal and insect related incidents	2,060
Fall to lower level	1,380
^[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 515 for the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry during 2020, compared to 577 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure^[1][2]	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Total fatal injuries (number)	596	584	574	577	515
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	50	54	50	57	36
Transportation incidents	266	277	274	265	250
Fires and explosions	13	16	14	6	--
Falls, slips, trips	41	38	35	34	34
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	34	23	33	47	44
Contact with objects and equipment	188	175	167	167	146
^[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories. ^[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Employment data come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

Last Modified Date: January 5, 2022