Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Occupational Animals Are Are Animals Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are Occupational Hazards?

Working with animals requires attention to the unique hazards each one poses—otherwise, results can be deadly for workers. Using multi-year data, BLS’ comprehensive overview of occupational hazards posed by animals may be the first to focus on so wide a variety of animals, from livestock to wild animals to pets to insects.

DINO DRUDI hile animals serve human tively.) This article presents some of needs, they can turn on the results of that research. W humans with deadly conse- All live animals, as well as some dead quences. From 1992-97, animals di- animals, are included within the scope rectly inflicted or contributed to 375 of this discussion. However, once ani- fatal occupational injuries—1 percent mal carcasses go beyond the initial of all the fatal injuries reported to the stages of veterinary autopsy or food Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS processing, they lose their status as also estimates that, during this time- animals for BLS classification purposes, span, there were 75,000 animal-related and are considered animal products, nonfatal cases in the private sector of meat, or waste. At that point they are the economy.1 These 75,000 cases ac- no longer within the scope of this ar- count for 0.6 percent of all nonfatal in- ticle.4 Allergic reactions to animal prod- juries and illnesses involving 1 or more ucts, such as feathers or dander, also days away from work to recuperate.2 are not addressed here. On average, there are 63 fatal injuries Separate sections devoted to fatal and 12,500 nonfatal injuries and ill- occupational injuries and nonfatal oc- nesses involving animals each year. cupational injuries and illnesses spe- Historically, research on occupa- cific to birds, fish, insects and arach- tional hazards associated with animals nids, dogs and cats, and cattle and has tended to focus on one particular equine comprise the body of the article. occupation, animal, or group of animals The numbers of fatal and nonfatal cases such as farm animals, often subsumed reported for sheep, swine, rodents, and under more general research.3 Data for snakes and other reptiles are too small 1992-97 from the BLS Census of Fatal to support such a detailed analysis.5 Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Sur- The major causes of animal-related Dino Drudi is an economist in the Office of vey of Occupational Injuries and Ill- work fatalities are analyzed. Compari- Safety, Health and Working Conditions, Bu- nesses (SOII) enable BLS to undertake sons among different animal categories reau of Labor Statistics. William McCarthy, a pioneering, comprehensive overview are then explored, followed by a sum- a supervisory statistician, Janice Windau, an epidemiologist, and Linda Garris, Eric of occupational hazards posed by a mary of major findings and a brief con- Sygnatur, Timothy Webster, and Mark Zak, wide variety of animals. (See tables 1 clusion. economists in that office, assisted with data and 2 for the kinds of animals involved development. Telephone: (202) 691-6175 in fatal work injuries and in nonfatal Birds E-mail: [email protected] work injuries and illnesses, respec- Between 1992-97, there were approxi-

Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 15 TABLE 1. Animals involved in fatal incidents are rare, birds can pose a par- they are active during warmer times of occupational injuries, number and ticular hazard for aviation, and have the the year. Unless stung dozens or even percent, 1992-97 potential for causing incidents involv- hundreds of times, nonallergic indi- Fatal occupational ing multiple fatalities. Birds can be viduals tend to survive bee, wasp, and Animal injuries Number Percent sucked into aircraft engines, causing hornet stings. Although more rare, the engines to fail in flight. workers also encounter poisonous spi- Total ...... 375 100 ders whose venom is more danger- Animals, Fish (including shellfish) ous—even to those workers who are unspecified ...... - - Although there are virtually no fatali- not allergic. In the southwestern parts Birds...... - - Chickens ...... - - ties associated with fish, they account of the country, scorpions, whose sting Turkeys ...... - - for 2,500 nonfatal occupational injuries is more venomous than most spider Other birds ...... - - and illnesses over the 6-year study bites, can be a hazard, but workers are Fish (includes shellfish) ...... - - period. Manufacturing accounts for less likely to encounter these noctur- Insects, arachnids . 42 11 most of these cases; nonprecision ma- nal arachnids. Fire ants, which are be- Mammals chine operator, handler, and laborer coming increasingly common in the (nonhuman) ...... 303 81 Dogs ...... 8 2 occupations typically associated with southeastern parts of the country, also 10 Cats ...... - - manufacturing account for two-fifths can inflict serious injury. Cattle (bovine) ... 141 38 of the fish-related nonfatal injuries and Another, less common hazard as- Equine ...... 104 28 7 Sheep ...... - - illnesses. sociated with insects and arachnids is Swine ...... - - About half of fish-related nonfatal the transmission of diseases to hu- Rats, rodents .... - - cases result from contact with objects, mans. Workers bitten by ticks, for ex- Other mam- mals1 ...... 41 11 such as being struck by a several-hun- ample, can contract diseases such as Reptiles, snakes .... - - dred pound fish being unloaded for Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Other animals ...... - - processing. A fish this size need not Spotted Fever, which can cause long even be alive to cause such an injury periods of disability unless the condi- 1 Deer account for more than half of these fatalities, followed by elephants, which ac- or illness—it need only slip off a con- tion is promptly diagnosed and prop- count for one-eighth. veyor belt and land on a worker’s foot. erly treated.11 Insects and arachnids NOTE: Dash indicates fewer than five fa- talities or data that do not meet publication Overexertion (as may occur in lifting or can also play a contributory role in se- criteria. Numbers may not add to totals wielding a heavy fish to put it on a con- TABLE 2. Animals involved in nonfatal due to rounding and the application of pub- veyor belt) and exposure to harmful occupational injuries and illnesses, lication criteria. substances (as when dermatitis results number and percent, 1992-97 mately 1,200 nonfatal occupational in- from handling fish) account for the vast Nonfatal occu- juries and illnesses involving birds. majority of the remaining cases. Fish pational injuries and illnesses Poultry (almost entirely chickens and also inflict a wide variety of injuries and Animal Number turkeys, but also ducks and geese) ac- illnesses such as sprains, and punc- (thou- Percent count for nearly nine-tenths of these tures other than bites—some species’ sands) cases. Manufacturing, which often in- fins, for example, can be very sharp. cludes poultry slaughter and initial pro- Total ...... 75.0 100 Animals, unspecified 1.0 1 cessing, accounts for two-fifths of the Insects and arachnids8 Birds ...... 1.2 2 cases involving birds. Agriculture and Insects caused 42 fatalities during 1992- Chickens ...... 5 1 Turkeys ...... 5 1 retail trade also account for large num- 97. Of these, 39 were the result of ven- Other birds ...... - - bers of cases. Workers in three occu- omous bee, wasp, or hornet stings. Fish (includes shellfish) ...... 2.5 3 pations—farmworkers, nonconstruc- Because many persons are allergic to Insects, arachnids . 36.1 48 tion laborers, and butchers and meat bee, wasp, and hornet venom, they can Mammals cutters—experienced nearly half the quickly succumb to such conditions as (nonhuman) ...... 32.5 43 Dogs ...... 13.8 18 bird-related nonfatal cases. anaphylactic shock, or even heart fail- Cats ...... 4.6 6 Chickens and turkeys make up ure, unless promptly treated. Although Cattle (bovine) ... 5.3 7 Equine ...... 5.1 7 nearly the entire stock of farm poultry. arachnids did not account for any fa- Sheep ...... - - During the 1992-97 period, the number talities during this period, arachnids Swine ...... 1.9 3 of chickens averaged 388 million, and and insects inflicted 36,100 nonfatal Rats, rodents .... .2 0 Other mam- 9 the number of turkeys averaged 293 occupational injuries and illnesses. mals ...... 6 1 million, per year.6 Table 2 shows that, Venomous stings and bites were the Reptiles, snakes .... 1.1 1 despite these large numbers, poultry most common. Other animals ...... 6 1 accounts for a very small portion of Bees, wasps, and hornets are preva- NOTE: Dash indicates data that do not nonfatal cases. lent throughout the country, and pose meet publication criteria. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding and the appli- Although the data suggest that such a threat to workers, particularly when cation of publication criteria.

16 Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 vere injuries, such as a worker falling for one-tenth of cases involving in- Cats. During the 1992-97 period, there Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Occupational Animals Are off a ladder because of a wasp attack. sects and arachnids. were no occupational fatalities associ- Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are Outdoor workers account for three- Of greater potential concern, how- ated with cats, although cats account quarters of fatal insect injuries, with 27 ever, is that one-third of the cases in- for 4,600 nonfatal occupational injuries reported in the agriculture and con- volving the head are in the eye region, and illnesses involving days away from struction industries over the study pe- where swelling from even a mosquito work.15 Almost all injuries and illnesses riod. Outdoor workers, such as con- bite might keep a worker away from the inflicted by cats are animal attacks, such struction and nonconstruction job by impairing vision until the swell- as cat bites or scratches. Bites alone laborers, truck drivers, groundskeep- ing subsides. These 1,300 cases, how- account for more than two-thirds of all ers, and farm workers, also are among ever, tend to be minor, with a short re- cat-related cases. In addition, there is the workers most frequently victims of cuperation time. One-fifth of them a small number of more serious cat bites nonfatal insect and arachnid injuries involve a foreign body—a small insect, that transmit diseases. Because cats and illnesses. But so are some indoor such as a mosquito or gnat—getting are uniquely equipped to scratch, they workers, including machine operators, caught in the eye without biting the account for more abrasions severe janitors, nurses aides and orderlies, and worker. enough to require days away from work even cashiers. for recuperation than any other mammal. It is not surprising that stings and Dogs and cats Four-fifths of injuries and illnesses bites are most common on the upper associated with cats involve the upper extremities, as these are the most ex- Dogs. Dogs were involved in eight extremities, compared with just over posed body parts. Outdoor workers, occupational fatalities—six of which one-fifth of injuries and illnesses over- and some indoor workers such as ma- resulted from highway and nonindus- all. The arms, wrists, and hands are chine operators and janitors, often wear trial offroad vehicle crashes in which often the easiest body part for a cat to short sleeves or roll up their sleeves, the vehicle went out of control after bite or scratch. Animal-handling oc- and generally do not wear gloves dur- hitting, or swerving to avoid hitting, cupations—particularly nonfarm ing warmer weather when these insects the dog.12 animal caretakers, veterinary techni- are active. An insect or arachnid might, Dogs also were involved in 13,800 cians, and veterinarians—have the larg- moreover, be able to sting or bite nonfatal occupational injuries and ill- est numbers of cat-related nonfatal oc- through many summer shirt or blouse nesses involving days away from work, cupational injuries and illnesses. The fabrics. three-quarters of which resulted from number of nonfatal cases involving The lower extremities are inherently animal attacks. Overexertion, primarily veterinary technicians is about the more vulnerable to insect stings and overexertion in lifting, accounts for same for cats as for dogs, but cats in- bites than are the upper extremities be- nearly all the remainder—hardly sur- flicted almost twice as many nonfatal cause the surface area of the lower ex- prising because a number of dog breeds injuries to veterinarians as did dogs tremities is greater, and because parts are quite heavy and unwieldy.13 during the 6-year study period. of the lower extremities are more diffi- Two-fifths of nonfatal cases asso- cult to swat. Nevertheless, stings and ciated with dogs involve the upper ex- Comparisons between dogs and cats. bites are inflicted on the lower extremi- tremities, compared with just over one- As we have seen, the number of occu- ties barely half as often as on the up- fifth of injuries and illnesses overall. pational injuries and illnesses associ- per extremities. One explanation might Almost all of these cases involve the ated with dogs is several times that of be that it is harder for these insects to hand (including the fingers), and gen- cats. While there were no fatal work sting or bite through such common erally result from dog bites. Bites com- injuries involving cats during the 6-year work pant fabrics as denim. Moreover, prise three-fifths of all dog-related non- period, dogs accounted for eight fatali- although some workers wear shorts or fatal cases. In addition, there is a small ties. There were 3 times as many non- skirts outdoors in warmer weather, number of more serious dog bites that fatal occupational injuries and illnesses when exposure to stings and bites is transmit diseases. Sprains are the next for dogs as for cats. Divergent esti- more likely, most do not; some employ- most frequent type of case, account- mates of the numbers of dogs and cats ers even prohibit or discourage such ing for one-fifth of the dog-related non- in the United States confound quanti- attire. fatal cases. fication efforts, although the number Because the head is one of the most Dog-related nonfatal injuries and ill- of cats appears to at least equal the sensitive body parts, a worker stung nesses affect a wide range of occupa- number of dogs.16 Consequently, it or bitten on the head would be more tions, although nonfarm animal care- appears safe to conclude that dogs aware of the injury and, consequently, takers account for one-third of these pose a larger work hazard than cats. be better able to take preventive mea- cases, followed by truck drivers, who As the following tabulation illus- sures such as swatting the attacking account for one-tenth, and veterinary trates, the 1992-97 gender distribution insect or arachnid. The head, one of technicians and meter readers, who of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involv- the most exposed body parts, accounts each account for one-twentieth.14 ing these two common pets contrasts

Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 17 with the gender distribution of nonfa- by dogs than of nonfatal injuries and half the cattle-inflicted nonfatal cases. tal cases overall: illnesses overall, it cannot explain why Truck drivers, butchers, and noncon- women suffer disproportionately more struction laborers account for most of cat-related cases. the remaining cases. Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses More than nine-tenths of fatal inju- Cattle (bovine) and equine ries and nonfatal injuries and illnesses Number Percent inflicted by cattle involve men. Animal Cattle. Cattle include bovine in gen- Nonhispanic whites comprise two- MenWomen Men Women eral, such as dairy and beef cows, thirds of cattle-related nonfatal cases Dogs ...... 6,584 7,174 48 52 calves, heifers, steers, and bulls; bison, for which race and ethnic origin were Cats ...... 1,002 3,644 22 78 which are being introduced as a com- reported, with Hispanics accounting for mercial beef animal (more commonly virtually all the remainder. referred to as “buffalo”); beefalo, a cow- Bruises (either alone or in combina- Although, overall, men sustain twice bison hybrid; and exotic bovine such tion with other injuries and illnesses) as many nonfatal occupational injuries as water buffalo. comprise about a third of cattle-related and illnesses as women, despite being Cattle account for more fatal work nonfatal cases, compared with one- barely a majority of the workforce, injuries than any other animal. These ninth of all nonfatal cases. Fractures women account for a majority of the 141 cases comprise two-fifths of the (either alone or in combination with cases for dogs and for cats. Their share 375 worker fatalities associated with other injuries and illnesses) comprise of cases involving cats, four-fifths, is animals, and nearly half of the 303 fa- about a sixth of cattle-related nonfatal particularly large. Nonfarm animal care- talities associated with mammals, dur- cases, compared with under one-tenth takers, such as might work in a ing the 1992-97 period. However, cattle of all nonfatal cases. However, sprains veterinarian’s office, pet store, or ken- account for only 7 percent of nonfatal and strains (either alone or in combina- nel, account for the largest number of injuries and illnesses associated with tion with other injuries and illnesses) injuries and illnesses inflicted by dogs animals, 5,300 cases, during these 6 also comprise about a sixth of cattle- and cats alike. According to data from years.20 related nonfatal cases, compared with the Current Population Survey, women The fatality risk is disproportion- more than two-fifths of all nonfatal make up two-thirds of employment in ately localized in a small segment of the cases. While sprains and strains are this occupation.17 While this might cattle population. Bulls, which are only much less prevalent among cattle-re- help explain why women predominate about 2 percent of the cattle popula- lated cases than in nonfatal cases over- among dog- and cat-related nonfatal tion, account for about half the cattle- all, fractures, bruises, and contusions cases, it does not explain why women related fatalities, 68 of the 141. But, at are much more prevalent. account for a greater share of cat-re- calving time, cows, which are two-fifths lated cases than of dog-related cases. of the cattle population,21 pose another, Equine. Equine, which include horses, Even after adjusting for truck drivers albeit less prevalent, peril: workers ex- ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys, and meter readers—male-dominated perienced five fatalities related to account for more fatal work injuries occupations that are among the most birthing or maternal defensiveness, than any animal other than cattle.22 The common for dog-related cases, but that such as cows attacking farmers trying 104 fatal work injuries associated with are negligible for cat-related cases— to midwife them. equine comprise more than one-quar- women’s share of dog-related cases Animal attacks account for four- ter of the 375 animal fatalities, and one- remains much less than their share of fifths of the cattle-related job fatalities, third of the 303 fatalities associated cat-related cases. 114 of the 141. The 14 vehicle crashes with mammals, that occurred during the Sprains and strains, which account resulting from collisions with cattle ac- 1992-97 period. The 5,100 nonfatal for more than two-fifths of nonfatal in- count for about half the remaining equine cases, however, account for juries and illnesses overall,18 are con- cases, with most of the rest being only 7 percent of nonfatal injuries and siderably less prevalent for cat-related struck-against incidents, such as 6 illnesses involving animals during cases than for dog-related cases, com- cases involving cattle knocking a gate these 6 years.23 prising one-fifth of cases for dogs and or panel into the worker. There were 53 animal attacks ac- a negligible share for cats. Cats typi- Agriculture accounts for three-quar- counting for half of the equine-related cally average 5 to 6 pounds,19 while ters of the total cattle-related fatalities. job fatalities. There also were 25 dogs usually weigh much more. While It also accounts for most of the cattle- nonattack fatalities which resulted from this might explain why sprains and related nonfatal cases, followed by the rider falling off the horse,24 16 fatal strains are inflicted with greater fre- manufacturing (including meatpacking, animal-drawn vehicle incidents (such quency by dogs than by cats, and why which involves slaughtering live ani- as falling off a horse-drawn hay cart), women account for a greater share of mals), transportation, and wholesale and 9 vehicle crashes resulting from nonfatal injuries and illnesses inflicted trade. Farm workers suffered nearly collisions with equine or swerving to

18 Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 avoid colliding with them. it, accounts for an additional one-fifth juries play a larger role in fatal injuries Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Occupational Animals Are The 64 cases involving workers in of nonfatal cattle-related cases. Simi- involving cattle than in those involv- Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are farming occupations constitute the larly, more than half of the equine-re- ing equine. majority of equine-related job fatalities, lated cases also involve animal attacks. followed by those involving jockeys, Being struck by objects accounts for Major causes of fatal work-related rodeo riders, and animal trainers, which three-tenths of nonfatal equine-related fatalities together account for 20 cases during cases. Three-fifths of the 375 work fatalities this 6-year period. Agriculture ac- As the following tabulation involving animals are the result of be- counts for two-thirds of the equine-re- shows,25 for 1992-97, the peril cattle ing attacked by an animal, or being lated fatalities, with amusement and rec- pose to workers is proportionate to their stung or bitten by a venomous animal. reation services, such as racetracks, share of farm mammals overall: These 227 incidents are divided into accounting for another one-fifth. Two two main categories: Animal attacks, industry divisions, agriculture and ser- Numbers such as being gored by a bull or thrown Animal of head Fatalities vices, account for almost all equine-re- (millions) from a horse carriage by a spooked lated nonfatal cases. Farm workers ac- horse, which account for 186 job fatali- Total ...... 174 249 count for one-third of the equine-inflic- Cattle ...... 101 141 ties; and venomous stings and bites, ted injuries and illnesses; nonfarm ani- Swine ...... 59 - which account for 41 job fatalities.28 mal caretakers account for one-quarter. Sheep ...... 9 - Bee, wasp, and hornet stings account Bruises (either alone or in combina- Equine ...... 5 104 for nearly all the venomous stings and tion with other injuries and illnesses) NOTE: Dash indicates fewer than five bites; cattle and equine account for the comprise about three-tenths of equine- cases or data that do not meet publication vast majority of animal attacks. Table 4 related nonfatal cases, compared with criteria. shows the kinds of animals most fre- one-ninth of all nonfatal cases. Frac- Cattle account for three-fifths of the quently involved in these incidents. tures (either alone or in combination work fatalities involving farm mammals, Fatal highway and nonindustrial, with other injuries and illnesses) also and for three-fifths of farm mammals. offroad vehicle crashes involving ani- account for about three-tenths of However, the fatality hazard for equine mals typically result from collision with equine-related nonfatal cases, com- is different: while equine comprise only an animal or swerving to avoid it; these pared with under one-tenth of all non- 3 percent of all farm mammals, they 75 cases account for a fifth of animal- fatal cases. However, sprains and account for two-fifths of the work fa- related fatalities. The following tabu- strains (either alone or in combination talities involving farm mammals. Swine lation shows the number of cases at- with other injuries and illnesses) com- make up one-third of farm mammals, tributable to the kinds of animals prise less than one-fifth of equine-re- but account for few fatalities. Sheep, most frequently involved in fatal high- lated nonfatal cases, compared with which are only about 5 percent of farm way and nonindustrial, offroad vehicle slightly more than two-fifths of all non- mammals, account for a negligible incidents. 26 fatal cases. Whereas fractures account number of fatalities. In addition to Animal Number for only one-sixth of cases involving the differences in purpose of the vari- of cases cattle, they are the leading injury in- ous animals, this may reflect the rela- Total ...... 75 volving equine, accounting for three- tive physical size of sheep and swine, Deer ...... 24 tenths of cases. compared with horses and bulls. Equine ...... 20 Cattle ...... 15 Table 3 shows the percent distribu- Dogs ...... 6 Comparisons between cattle and tion of fatal nonvehicle-related injuries Other ...... 10 equine. A unique feature of both cattle- inflicted by cattle and equine. Internal and equine-related cases is that an un- and intracranial injuries account for Cattle-related vehicle fatalities in- usually high portion of trunk injuries more than two-thirds of fatal cases for variably involve collisions with cattle involve locations other than the back both cattle and equine. Injuries of this in the roadway: two-thirds of these or shoulder. For nonfatal cases over- character and magnitude reflect these cattle-related fatalities involve trucks, all, the back and shoulder account for animals’ sheer size and weight. Intra- and half involve tractor-trailer trucks. four-fifths of trunk cases. In contrast, cranial injuries play a larger role in fa- Equine-related vehicle fatalities usually for cattle- and equine-related cases, the tal injuries for equine than for cattle, involve animal-drawn vehicles, such as back and shoulder account for only half most likely because one of the most horse carriages and hay wagons. In of the trunk cases. typical uses of horses is as riding ani- most vehicle crashes involving other Almost three-fifths of cattle-related mals. Riders falling off horses, horses animals, the crashes resulted because nonfatal injuries involve the worker falling while being ridden, and riders drivers attempted to swerve to avoid being attacked by cattle. Being struck being bucked off horses are common them. Trucks also were involved in by objects, as when a worker is hit by a causes of equine-related work fatali- half of these crashes, but tractor-trailer gate nudged by a cow passing through ties.27 On the other hand, internal in- trucks were involved in only one-sixth.

Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 19 TABLE 3. Percent distribution of fatal nonvehicle-related injuries involving cattle mals or stings or bites by venomous and equine, 1992-97 animals. Another fifth resulted from Injury Cattle Equine highway and nonindustrial, offroad ve- hicle crashes involving animals. Internal ...... 39 26 Intracranial ...... 25 41 Multiple, involving both internal and intracranial ...... 5 7 • Few, if any, work-related fatalities Multiple, except those involving both internal involved snakes or other reptiles, and intracranial ...... 16 6 Other ...... 15 20 sheep, swine, or rodents.

NOTE: Data exclude vehicular crashes. Conclusion Animals pose unique hazards to work- TABLE 4. Fatalities involving animal attacks or venomous stings and bites, 1992-97 ers, such as being stung by bees or Type Number trampled by cattle. Although animals Total ...... 227 can pose hazards common to work-re- Animal attacks ...... 186 lated injuries and illnesses overall, such Cattle ...... 114 Equine ...... 53 as knocking a gate or panel into a Exotic mammals1 ...... 9 worker in much the same way a gust of Other animals ...... 10 wind might do, these incidents are the Venomous stings and bites ...... 41 Bees, wasps, hornets ...... 39 exception. Animals also pose hazards that have both common and unique 1 This category includes such mammals half of the fatalities inflicted by exotic mam- features. For example, deer darting into as elephants, tigers, and giraffes, which mals. traffic to cross the road can cause are not native to the United States and which crashes as vehicles swerve to avoid are not included in the other specific cat- NOTE: Subcategories might not sum to egories. Elephants account for more than totals due to subcategories not shown. them, in much the same way that ve- hicles weaving in and out of traffic can Combined, the 75 fatalities resulting than in those involving cattle, while cause crashes. However, unlike ve- from highway and nonindustrial, internal injuries play a larger role in fa- hicles, deer often dart suddenly out of offroad vehicle crashes involving ani- tal injuries involving cattle than in the roadside brush. Although some mals, and the 227 fatal animal attacks those involving equine. animals are large and heavy enough to and venomous stings and bites, total 302 be potent vehicle collision hazards in cases, four-fifths of the animal-related • For both cattle and equine-re- and of themselves, even collisions with fatalities during the 1992-97 period. lated cases, a high proportion of trunk smaller animals, such as dogs, can injuries involve locations other than the cause drivers to lose control of their Major findings back or shoulder. vehicles. A number of key findings emerged from Animals are among the few animate this analysis of the 1992-97 data: • The number of fatal and nonfatal objects with which workers interact, cases associated with dogs is much and this places them in a special class • The risk that cattle pose to work- greater than that for cats, demonstrat- of workplace hazards. To illustrate: the ers is proportional to their share of farm ing that dogs pose a larger work haz- weight within a cabinet could shift were mammals overall. In contrast, equine ard than cats. the shelves to fall out as furniture mov- comprise 3 percent of all farm mammals, ers maneuver the piece up the stairs, but account for two-fifths of the work- • Although men suffer a majority straining a worker’s back; but wielding related fatalities involving farm mam- of nonfatal occupational injuries over- a dog can cause a similar injury to a mals. Swine and sheep pose a smaller all, women account for four-fifths of veterinary assistant were the dog to risk than their share of farm mammals nonfatal occupational injuries and ill- decide to shift its own weight. Simi- overall. nesses involving cats. larly, inanimate objects do not attack a worker in the same way that a bull might • Internal and intracranial injuries • Outdoor workers account for gore a farmer or an elephant trample its make up more than two-thirds of work- three-quarters of fatal insect injuries. trainer. Working with, or in the pres- related fatalities involving cattle and ence of, a particular animal requires equine. Intracranial injuries play a larger • Three-fifths of the animal-related special attention to the unique hazards role in fatal injuries involving equine work fatalities involved attacks by ani- it poses.

20 Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Occupational Animals Are Are Animals Occupational Hazards? Hazards? Occupational Occupational Animals Animals Are Are

1 Data on fatal work injuries are from the 3, 1985, pp. 205-10; H.M. Busch, Jr., T.H. 11 See Cahill, Diseases, pp. 135-37, 184- Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Cogbill, J. Landercasper, and B.O. 86, and 189-92. See also “Lyme Disease Occupational Injuries (CFOI), 1992-97. This Landercasper, “Blunt Bovine and Equine Facts,” Hazard Information Bulletin (Wash- program, which has collected occupational Trauma,” Journal of Trauma, vol. 26, no. 6, ington, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupa- fatality data nationwide since 1992, uses di- 1986, pp. 559-60; J. Landercasper, T.H. tional Safety and Health Administration, Apr. verse data sources to identify, verify, and pro- Cogbill, P.J. Strutt, and B.O. Landercasper, 20, 2000). file fatal work injuries. Information about “Trauma and the Veterinarian,” Journal of 12 Dogs, in the BLS Occupational Injury each workplace fatality (occupation and other Trauma, vol. 28, no. 8, 1988, pp. 1255-59; and Illness Classification System, refer worker characteristics, equipment being used, T.H. Cogbill, P.J. Strutt, J. Landercasper, and strictly to domestic dogs. Other members of and circumstances of the event) is obtained B.O. Landercasper, “Injuries from Horses and the dog family, such as wolves, are subsumed by cross-referencing source documents, such Cows,” Complications in Orthopedics, vol. under other mammals. SOII does not con- as death certificates, workers’ compensation 4, no. 4, 1989, pp. 112-14, 120; and P. Freta, tain sufficient detail to ascertain the number records, and reports to Federal and State agen- “Injuries from Farm Animals,” Principles of of nonfatal cases attributable to other mem- cies. This method ensures that counts are as Health and Safety in Agriculture (Boca Raton, bers of the dog family. complete and accurate as possible. CFOI data FL, CRC Press, Inc., 1989), pp. 365-66. 13 A number of dog breeds are heavy and do not include fatal work illnesses. 4 Occupational Injury and Illness Classi- unwieldy. Saint Bernards, for example, can Data on nonfatal work injuries are from fication Manual (Washington, Bureau of reach as much as 200 pounds. (See Encyclo- the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Ill- Labor Statistics, December 1992) pp. DS55- pedia Americana, vol. 9, p. 234.) BLS data nesses (SOII), 1992-97. This program col- DS56. are not sufficiently detailed to afford any lects information on nonfatal work-related 5 Encyclopedia Americana reports, “Fa- breed-specific conclusions. injuries and illnesses from a random sample tal snake bites are extremely rare in the 14 Because the SOII does not include gov- of about 250,000 establishments represent- United States…probably fewer than 10 such ernment employment, nonfatal animal-re- ing most of private sector wage and salary deaths annually....” Unlike Asia, where an- lated injuries and illnesses to public sector employment. The self-employed and farms nual snake bite deaths are estimated at 30,000 employees, such as animal-control officers, with fewer than 11 employees are excluded. to 40,000 because large populations live in police officers, and letter carriers, are not Worker characteristics are collected only for close proximity to dangerously venomous available from BLS. Data for some of these those workers sustaining injuries and illnesses snakes, the United States has only a few spe- occupations might be available from other that require days away from work to recuper- cies of venomous snakes, and their habitats sources, such as the U.S. Department of La- ate. are usually isolated from population centers. bor, Occupational Safety and Health Admin- Because the scope and methodology of Only 15 percent of snake species worldwide istration for Federal Government employ- CFOI and SOII are different, comparison of are venomous. Moreover, even when ven- ees, and the U.S. Postal Service for postal the fatal and nonfatal data is problematic. omous snakes do bite, half the time they do workers. See also “Risks of the Route,” The More information on CFOI and SOII is not inject venom. (Encyclopedia Americana, Washington Post, June 12, 2000, p. A19. available at http://stats.bls.gov/oshhome.htm. vol. 25 (Danbury, CT, Grolier, Inc., 1999), 15 Cats, in the BLS Occupational Injury 2 A fatal injury was included in this study p. 104.) and Illness Classification System, refer if an animal was the source or secondary Attacks by other reptiles, such as gila strictly to domestic cats. Other members of source of the injury, or if the case’s narrative monsters and alligators, also are rare, per- the cat family, such as tigers, which account description identified an animal as playing haps because these creatures are becoming for a small number of fatal occupational in- an active role in the fatal incident. Because less common as the consequence of property juries, are subsumed under other mammals. secondary source was not published for the development, or because workers know how SOII does not contain sufficient detail to as- nonfatal SOII data, and narrative descriptions to avoid places that they frequent. certain the number of nonfatal cases attrib- are not included in the SOII database, nonfa- Bats are now the primary rabies vectors utable to other members of the cat family. tal occupational injuries or illnesses were in- (organisms that transmit pathogens) to hu- 16 There is no apparent consensus about cluded only if the animal was the source. The mans. Since 1980, 25 persons have caught the numbers of cats and dogs in the United source identifies the object, substance, bodily rabies in the United States, all but three of States. Colliers Encyclopedia estimates that motion, or exposure that directly produced them from bats. (“Bat Bites Cause Most there are 50 million cats, 10 million of which or inflicted the injury or illness, whereas the U.S. Rabies Cases,” Washington Times, Nov. are feral (Colliers Encyclopedia, vol. 5 (New secondary source identifies the object, sub- 3, 1999, p. C5.) York, P.F. Collier, 1994), p. 539), but only stance, or person that generated the source 6 Agricultural Statistics, 1999 (Washing- 25 million dogs (vol. 8, p. 292). Encyclope- of injury or illness or that contributed to the ton, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Na- dia Americana reports that there are 25 mil- event or exposure. Each case must have a tional Agricultural Statistics Service, 1999), lion cats (vol. 5, p. 801), while elsewhere source, but many cases do not have a second- pp. VIII-30 and VIII-40-VIII-41. reports cats are believed to outnumber dogs, ary source associated with them. Fatal inju- 7 Due to vagaries of coverage requirements which it estimates at 29 to 35 million (vol. ries with source as an animal account for 0.6 and reporting practices for some offshore 9, p. 234). World Book Encyclopedia esti- percent of all injury fatalities, approximately operations, some nonfatal cases in the fish- mates 58 million cats (World Book Encyclo- the same percentage as for nonfatal occupa- ing industry may not be included. pedia, vol. 3 (Chicago, World Book, 1989), tional injuries and illnesses with source as an 8 Insects are six-legged arthropods whose p. 284) and 49 million dogs (vol. 5, p. 264). animal. When fatal injuries with a source bodies consist of three segments—head, tho- The American Veterinary Medicine Associa- other than an animal, but with a secondary rax, and abdomen—whereas arachnids are tion estimates there were 53 million dogs source as an animal or with a narrative de- eight-legged arthropods whose bodies consist and 59 million cats in the United States as of scription identifying an animal as playing an of only two segments—head and abdomen. the end of 1996 (US Pet Ownership and De- active role in the fatal incident, are included, Bees, hornets, and wasps are insects, whereas mographics Sourcebook (Schaumburg, IL, fatal injuries involving animals rise to 1 per- spiders, scorpions, and ticks are arachnids. American Veterinary Medicine Association, cent of fatal injuries. 9 Because small farms with fewer than 11 1997), p. 3; and “Cats, Dogs Live Longer 3 Examples of such occupation or ani- employees are excluded from SOII coverage, with Up-to-Date Care,” Washington Times, mal-specific research include A. Steele- the actual number of nonfatal cases involv- Nov. 15, 1999, p. A2). The Pet Food Insti- Bodger, “Hazards of Animal Handling,” An- ing insects and arachnids is likely to be greater tute estimates there were 56 million dogs and nals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 12, no. than the 36,100 reported to the SOII. 68 million cats in the country in 1996 (“Pet 2, 1969, pp. 79-85, which deals with farm 10 For more information on venomous Incidence Trend Report” (Washington, The animals; T.H. Cogbill and H.M. Busch, Jr., stings and bites, see Matthew Cahill, ed., Dis- Pet Institute, 1999), p. 6). “The Spectrum of Agricultural Trauma,” eases (Springhouse, PA, Springhouse Corp., 17 See Employment and Earnings, Janu- Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 3, no. 1993), pp. 266-67. ary issues for 1993-98, which contain annual

Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000 21 average employment data for 1992-97. ture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, “U.S. Equine Inventory Up 1.3 Percent.” 18 Timothy Webster, “Putting a Strain on Mar. 2, 1999). Because of a lack of data for earlier years, Workers’ Health,” Compensation and Work- 23 Because small farms with fewer than 11 the equine estimate represents the number ing Conditions, Spring 1999, p. 29. employees are excluded from SOII coverage, reported as of January 1, 1998. 19 Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 5, p. the actual number of nonfatal cases involv- 26 The nonfatal SOII data exclude farms 801. ing equine is likely to be greater than the with fewer than 11 workers, rendering com- 20 Because small farms with fewer than 11 5,100 reported to the SOII. See note 20 for parison of the prevalence of nonfatal occu- employees are excluded from SOII coverage, further discussion of the role of farm animals pational injuries and illnesses for particular the actual number of nonfatal cases involv- in traumatic nonfatal agricultural injuries. kinds of farm animals inappropriate. To- ing cattle is likely to be greater than the 5,300 24 Examples of animal attacks involving tals for fatalities involving various kinds of reported to the SOII. Other studies that in- equine include a horse bucking its rider; a horse farm animals include those from farms with clude small farms find farm animals account seeing a rattlesnake and rearing back in fright, fewer than 11 workers, while totals for non- for as much as one-third of traumatic nonfa- causing the rider to fall off; a horse being fatal occupational injuries and illnesses do tal agricultural injuries. See Cogbill and Busch, broken in dragging its trainer; horses tram- not. “The Spectrum of Agricultural Trauma,” pp. pling a jockey who falls off his horse during a 27 For discussion of a similar concept for 205-10; T.L. Napier, W.R. Goe, and A.R. race; and a mule kicking a farm worker stand- farm youth, see D.B. Reed, S. Novak, and Pugh, “Incidence and Predictive Factors As- ing near it. Examples of falls from equine R.L. Heath, “Farm Youth and Horse-related sociated with Farm Accidents in Ohio,” Re- that are not animal attacks include a horse Injuries: A Case for Safety Helmets,” Jour- search Circular 287 (Wooster, OH, Ohio State losing its footing and falling, even falling on nal of Agromedicine, vol. 5, no. 1, 1998, pp. University, 1985); and T.H. Cogbill, E.S. top of the rider; a rider falling off, even if 45-57. Steenlage, J. Landercasper, and P.J. Strutt, merely as a consequence of the horse gallop- 28 The following explanation might help “Death and Disability from Agricultural In- ing too fast; and a rider losing her balance for clarify the distinction between venomous juries in Wisconsin: A 12-year Experience reasons unrelated to the motion or behavior stings and bites versus other animal attacks: with 739 Patients,” Journal of Trauma, vol. of the horse. A snake bite, for example, would be classi- 31, no. 12, 1991, pp. 1632-37. 25 Cattle, swine, and sheep data are from fied as a venomous bite for a poisonous 21 Agricultural Statistics, 1999, p. VII-1. Agricultural Statistics, 1999, pp. VII-1, snake such as a copperhead (presuming 22 “U.S. Equine Inventory Up 1.3 Per- VII-19, and VII-29. The Agriculture De- venom is injected), whereas it would be an cent,” Agriculture Department Bulletin Eq 1 partment began releasing equine data in animal attack for a nonpoisonous snake such (Washington, U.S. Department of Agricul- 1999; consequently, equine data are from as a king snake.

22 Compensation and Working Conditions Fall 2000