Analysis of occupational accidents with agricultural machinery in the period 2008–2010 in Austria

• Accident database results can only be used for statistical comparison of different countries.
• The detection of the human–machine–environment interaction is an essential part in the accident analysis.
• The statistical analyzes shows informative trends and relations between different accidents parameters.
• Connection of database, reports, surveys and machinery evaluation allows the derivation of sustainable prevention measures.

The number of serious accidents at work, despite improved technology, coordinated prevention measures and better training and higher skill levels of farmers, is still very high in the Austrian agriculture and forestry. The scenarios in which people are injured are manifold. Parametric information of recognized accidents with different machines in agriculture and forestry in Austria in the years 2008–2010 was evaluated descriptively and analytically. This information included data about the accident victim, activity, accident course and cause as well as type of injury and the affected body parts by frequency and contexts. As analytical test method the chi-square test and odds ratio analysis were used. The aim was to determine the information content of parameters, in particular for the accident-causing human–machine interaction, from accident reports to derive prevention measures that meet the demand. The results showed that the information content of accident reports, because of insufficient information about the accident-causing human–machine interaction, does not suffice to derive or develop further sustainable preventive measures. Only through additional injury surveys and evaluations of accident and new machines was it possible to derive prevention measures meeting the demand according to accident course and cause.