Pennsylvania farm fatalities hold steady in 2005
Posted: September 11, 2006
Suggested Intro:
AS THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY OBSERVES FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK SEPTEMBER 17TH TO THE 24TH, A SAFETY SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS MUCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THE EFFORT TO MAKE FARMING SAFER. CHUCK GILL REPORTS:
Story:
(:15) AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE DIED ON PENNSYLVANIA FARMS IN 2005, UP ONE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND ALTHOUGH FARM FATALITIES HAVE FALLEN SINCE THE 1970S -- WHEN NEARLY 50 FARM WORKERS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE KILLED IN THE STATE EACH YEAR -- MORE IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED.
(:08) THAT'S ACCORDING TO PENN STATE FARM SAFETY SPECIALIST DENNIS MURPHY, WHO SAYS BESIDES THE HUMAN SUFFERING, FARM INJURIES AND DEATHS TAKE AN ECONOMIC TOLL:
Murphy Actuality:
(:17) "YOU THINK YOU HAVE INSURANCE, BUT THE INSURANCE OF COURSE ALMOST ALWAYS HAS DEDUCTIBLES. AND THEN FOR THE SERIOUS INJURIES, INSURANCE CERTAINLY DOESN'T COVER THE TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE HOSPITAL, DOESN'T COVER REHABILITATION A LOT OF TIMES. INSURANCE DOESN'T USUALLY PAY FOR REPLACEMENT LABOR THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO HIRE BECAUSE THE MAIN BREAD-WINNER CANNOT WORK."
(:13) MURPHY SAYS THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF TEMPORARY LOST-TIME WORK INJURIES ON PENNSYLVANIA FARMS IS NEARLY 5,000 ANNUALLY, AND THOSE INJURIES COST THE STATE'S RURAL ECONOMY MORE THAN $150 MILLION. FROM PENN STATE, I'M CHUCK GILL.
