Pesticide Handling

Between 2001-2002 and 2013-2014, the share of agricultural workers that reported having loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides in the last 12 months increased by 8 percentage points, from 11 percent to 19 percent. Field crops were the most common crops in which agricultural workers reported working with pesticides.
Table 18

In the last 12 months, agricultural worker has loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides

To view current and trend data from the NAWS select from the links below:

Attention A T users. Data is presented in three formats, a bar chart, a textual data table, and a line chart. The data is best reviewed though the data table when using A T.
Bar Chart Data Table Trend Lines

Bar Chart — In the last 12 months, agricultural worker has loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides

Data Table — In the last 12 months, agricultural worker has loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides1

Category 01-02 03-04 05-06 07-08 09-10 11-12 13-14
# % # % # % # % # % # % # %
In the last 12 months, agricultural worker has loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides159111%1,07612%71814%66715%85917%60216%78218%
Field crops19937%37838%----------
Fruits and nuts14522%28122%----------
Horticulture13427%22221%----------
Vegetables7811%9212%a----------
Miscellaneous174%a758%----------

1 Question was first asked in 2002; the 01-02 column contains data for 2002 only.

2 Question was asked in 2002 through 2004, as part of a NIOSH-sponsored supplement on occupational health. The 01-02 column contains data for 2002 only. A dash (“-“) indicates that the question was not asked during the corresponding time period.

3 Question was asked in 1999 through 2001, as part of a NIOSH-sponsored supplement on occupational health. The 01-02 column contains data for 2001 only.

4 Question was asked in 2000 and 2001, as part of a NIOSH-sponsored supplement on occupational health. The 99-00 column contains data for 2000 only and the 01-02 column contains data for 2001 only.

a Estimates with relative standard errors (RSEs) greater than 30 percent but no more than 50 percent are published but should be used with caution.

b Estimates based on fewer than four responses or with RSEs greater than 50 percent are considered statistically unreliable and are suppressed.

Trend Lines — In the last 12 months, agricultural worker has loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides

In the last 12 months with current employer, agricultural worker has loaded, mixed, or applied pesticides