Secondary Injuries/IllnessesOn the Farm

Presented by:

Dr. Therese Willkomm

Factors Contributing to Secondary Injuries/Illnesses on

the Farm Nature of disability and other health

related conditions Nature of Farm Task being Performed and

Required Abilities Assistive Technologies Used to Complete

Farm Tasks–

• Environmental conditions

• Other

Nature of disability and other health related conditions

o Associated physical, sensory, cognitive, environmental limitations;

o Secondary complications – predispositions to respiratory impairments; heat strokes; wound injuries

o Other Health related conditions

o Prognosis- getting worse or better

Nature of Farm Task being Performed and Required Abilities and Risks of Secondary Injuries

– Farm mobility – Tool use– Machinery use– Livestock handling – Grain/feed handling -– Material handling –

Assistive Technologies Used to Complete Farm Tasks–

– Level 1 Accommodation– Level 2 - Commercially available products; seating

and mobility equipment; prosthetic devices; etc– Level 3 -Commercially available equipment

modifications; – Level 4 - One of a kind solutions high risk of injury or

failures– Time – If A.T. takes too much time it won’t be used or– Money – limited funds $1,800 – Learn to “Make Due

with What you have”

Level 1: No Accommodations

Level 2 Commercially Available: Prosthetic Device Failures and

Entanglement

Secondary Injuries and Seating Systems

Level 3 - Equipment Modifications and Risks of Injury

Risk to Co-Workers Using Equipment that Has Been Modified

Level 4 - One of a kind solutions at risk of causing an injury

Money – Limited Funds $1,800 – Learn to “Make Due with What you

have”

Time – If A.T. takes too much time it won’t be used

Environmental Conditions

–Dust, dirt, bacteria

–Sun, extreme heat,

–Extreme cold

–Moisture -rain, snow, humidity

Other Factors

• Socio-Economic factors – Older Labor Intensive Farm Operations– Older machinery

• Behavioral – Accident Prone and Risk Taking

• Lack of Available Family Members or Hired Help

Objective 3.d. in the NAP Workplan:

Increase the knowledge of clients and service providers

regarding causes and prevention of secondary injuries and

illnesses.

Objective 1.c in the NAP Workplan:

To increase knowledge of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) and

Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Manufacturers on how DME products,

specifically wheelchair-related seating and mobility systems and prosthetics/orthotics, are

used and/or misused on the farm; describe limitations and recommendations for

improvements.