Causes of health and safety hazards in Canadian agriculture

Abstract

Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous occupations in the world, even in industrialized countries. One of the major differences between Canadian agriculture and most other sectors of the economy is that the vast majority of farmers are self-employed. Consequently their particular relations of production are expected to have an impact on the issue of work health and safety. After a review of the nature and extent of work accidents, deaths, illness, and injuries in farmers and farm workers, the article focuses on the causes of such hazards. These causes are analyzed with reference to individual, institutional, and structural factors. The author argues that institutional and structural factors seem to be of paramount importance in explaining the severity of farm health hazards.