California's $22 billion agricultural industry is one of the state's most economically important industries but also its most hazardous. Farm machinery, livestock, chemicals and inhalable dust are just a few of the variables that put farm workers at high risk for occupational illnesses and injuries. In a study of four databases containing information on farm operators, labor contractors and ag health-and-safety law violators, Dr. Stephen McCurdy, a UC Davis epidemiologist, working in collaboration with Don Villarejo of the California Institute for Rural Studies, has discovered several patterns that may help regulators and policy-makers improve the agricultural work environment. McCurdy and Villarejo found that farm-labor contractors and large-farm operators -- particularly those operating in more than one county -- were most likely to be cited for violations, perhaps because of the large numbers of employees. Also, fruit and nut operations -- particularly berry farms -- appeared to be at higher risk for violations. "Based on these findings, we now can make specific recommendations to improve interagency collaboration, data collection and educational programs in order to reduce the number and severity of injuries in agriculture," McCurdy said. A summary of the study, funded by the Chicano/Latino Policy Project at UC Berkeley, appears in the March issue of the California Policy Seminar Briefs.