Assessment of the condition of Iowa augers, auger-related injuries, and farmers' perceptions about auger-related injuries

This study provides an insight into auger-related injuries, Iowa farmers' perceptions of auger-related injuries and the condition of augers used in Iowa agriculture. Specific auger-related injury data (437 records) from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was examined and interpreted. The most likely body part injured was the finger and 11:00 A.M., 3:00 P.M., and 5:00 P.M. were the times of the day with the highest number of injuries reported. In addition, a survey was administered to 400 farmers to ascertain their awareness of auger-related injuries and to determine the condition of their augers. Farmers' perceptions of what body part is most likely to be injured by an auger and the level of severity expected from those injuries coincided with injury records from 1993 to 1997. A total 34% of the primary and secondary augers reported were unshielded or without guarding. This assessment provides insight for development of intervention countermeasures to reduce auger-related injuries.