In 2024, 19 people died of injuries suffered in farm-related incidents in Pennsylvania, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
The Penn State Agricultural Safety and Health Program in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering - which also is affiliated with Penn State Extension - releases the "Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary" annually. Researchers and extension educators use these data to identify hazards and risks associated with agricultural production and to inform the development of trainings and resources.
The 19 farm-related deaths in the state last year is lower than the 25-year average of 28 deaths per year. However, agricultural fatalities can fluctuate significantly from year to year, and reported incidents may represent just the tip of the iceberg, experts noted, as injuries - another concern - are not well tracked.
Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor, who leads agricultural safety and health programs at Penn State, pointed out that farm fatality statistics can vary widely.
"The lowest number of deaths recorded in the last 25 years was 16 in 2021," she said. "Yet, there were 39 deaths in 2020 and 37 deaths in 2022. These fatalities are likely an undercount because causes and location of fatalities are not always available in coroners' reports."
The victims in 2024 were from 16 counties across the state. Two counties in southeast Pennsylvania reported more than one death: Lancaster and York.
In line with previous years and national data, fatal incidents disproportionately affected young children and older adults. A quarter of the victims were under 10 years old and almost half were at least 65 years old. More than 80% of the victims were male, as seen in past years.
In 2024, 74% of the victims actively were working at the time of injury, and all but one regularly worked on the farm. A quarter of the victims - five children under the age of 10 - were not working: four were fatally injured by farm equipment and one by an animal.
"Supervising children and keeping them away from the most hazardous areas are essential steps in reducing fatalities among young children," Becot said. "At the same time, we know that many families value having their children around, while others are facing child care challenges."
Teaching children about farm hazards and establishing clear boundaries can help protect them from dangers such as manure pits, grain bins and areas where tractors or equipment are in use, she noted, adding that farm parents seeking assistance with locating and paying for child care services can consult Pennsylvania's Compass website.
Off-road and industrial vehicles continue to be the leading source of fatalities in Pennsylvania, as over half of the fatalities involved this type of equipment. Seven of the 2024 victims died from injuries related to farm tractors, with at least five involving overturns. Other deaths were caused by skid loader rollover and being pinned under a forklift. Tractor overturn fatalities most often happen when tractors do not have a rollover protection structure, or ROPS.
The next most frequent types of events were due to compression or contact with equipment or objects. About a quarter of the fatalities occurred this way, including being struck by a piece of machinery, silo collapse and tree fall.
Incidents involving animals were the third most common type of event leading to an injury, with 12% of the fatalities occurring in this manner, including a bull attack and a child being dragged by a horse. Last, one fatality was due to smoke inhalation, and one fatality was due to burns.
Penn State Extension offers an abundance of resources to promote safety and health for those involved in production agriculture. The agricultural safety and health website contains articles, videos, courses and other resources on animal handling, farm equipment safety, disaster preparedness, personal protective gear, child safety and many other topics. The team also regularly collaborates with a range of organizations to deliver presentations and training.
The team currently is conducting a survey to better understand safety and health challenges in agriculture and to identify preferred solutions. Farmers, farm workers and their families are invited to answer this 10-minute survey.
