Work-related injuries and fatalities on dairy farm operations-a global perspective

Medicolegal Implications of Deaths due to Agricultural Accidents

ABSTRACT

Agriculture encompasses a variety of activities that carry with them a variety of different risks. The unsafe use of vehicles, machinery, and tools as well as animal husbandry, working at heights, and exposure to chemical, biological, and weather events may result in the deaths of agricultural workers. Inexperienced operators and/or their inappropriate conduct may lead to avoidable fatalities. Forensic pathologists operating with the support of agricultural engineers or other professionals must evaluate the death scene, the case background and circumstances, the autopsy findings, and the toxicological data to establish the factors and dynamics responsible for such accidents and deaths.The aim of this review is to focus on the diagnostic approach required, by means of an interdisciplinary approach, to identify the cause of some typical agricultural fatalities, to confirm that death was accidental, and to help exclude the possibility of homicide or suicide.

Perceptions of dairy cow-handling situations: A comparison of public and industry samples

Inappropriate cattle handling poses a reputational threat to the dairy industry. To enhance social sustainability, handling practices must resonate with societal values about animal care. However, it has yet to be determined to what extent industry and public stakeholders differ in their perception of common cattle handling situations. We administered an online survey to samples of dairy industry (IND) and public (PUB) stakeholders to examine how they perceive a variety of cow-handling scenarios ranging from positive to negative in terms of effects on animal welfare. Participants were presented with 12 brief videos depicting a range of realistic cow-handling situations and responded to measures designed to assess their attitudes and beliefs about each scenario, their perception of the emotional response of the cows depicted in each scenario, as well as their own personal emotional response. Preexisting beliefs about cow treatment on US dairy farms and demographic data, including self-reported dairy consumption, were also collected and analyzed. Before viewing the videos, 52.9% of PUB (vs. 79.0% of IND) believed cows were treated well while 27.2% (vs. 9.0% of IND) believed cows were treated badly. Within IND, believing cows were treated badly was more common among nonwhites, those with greater formal education, more liberal politics, or from urban or suburban environments. In PUB, female and younger participants were more likely to believe cows were treated badly before viewing the videos. In both samples, participants with more positive preexisting beliefs about dairy cow treatment in the US reported consuming dairy products more frequently. In both PUB and IND, scenarios which were rated more positively for attitudes or for the cows' or respondents' emotional experiences were also perceived as more common. Within a given cow-handling scenario, qualitative attitudes (i.e., a positive, negative, or neutral valence) did not differ between the samples. In both samples, at the participant level, overall attitudes toward cow-handling scenarios were highly correlated with both their personal emotional response to the scenario and their perception of the cows' emotional responses. Although the participants' overall personal emotional responses did not differ between the samples, IND rated cows as experiencing more negative emotions overall. The consensus between industry and public stakeholders around dairy cow-handling practices observed in this study could provide a common starting point for addressing other, more contentious animal welfare issues.

On-Farm Health Screening Needs of Immigrant Dairy Workers in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains

The objective of this pilot study was to determine the health needs of dairy farm workers and the feasibility of on-farm health risk screenings in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect survey responses concerning health needs, occupational, and economic characteristics among 300 dairy workers between April 2020 and July 2021. Participants were predominantly immigrant Hispanic (88.8%) males (83.0%) of approximately 34.4 (SD 9.9) years of age, worked 6.0 (SD 0.4; Range 3-7) days a week and 9.9 (SD 1.5; Range 6-13) hours a day, earning a mean hourly rate of $13.40 (SD $2.80). Participants reported interest in attending on-farm health risk screenings (93.8%) as well as receiving a COVID-19 vaccine if it became available (86.4%). Health service categories were ranked from: (1st "most important") preventative care (Mean Rank 2.3), (2nd) laboratory and diagnostic care (Mean Rank 2.6), (3rd) nutritional and physical fitness support (Mean Rank 2.8), (4th) mental health care (Mean Rank 3.4), and (5th) workplace interventions (Mean Rank 3.6). Participants reported obtaining health information predominantly from internet searches (32.0%) and social media (17.7%). Findings suggest there is need and interest for on-farm health risk screenings and education among immigrant dairy workers in the Texas Panhandle-South Plains region. Addressing known barriers to health should be paramount to the organization of on-farm health risk screenings.

Patterns of milking unit kick-off as a proxy for habituation to milking in primiparous cows

The onset of lactation and the subsequent habituation to the milking routine is a stressful period, particularly for primiparous (PRI) cows. The objective of this study was to describe the dynamics of milking unit kick-off (KO) behavior in PRI cows during the first 3 mo of lactation, considering multiparous (MUL) cows as a reference for comparison. In addition, the potential associations between KO and milk yield and mastitis presentation were investigated. A total of 869 cows (PRI = 199; MUL = 670) on a dairy farm in northern CO were included in the analysis. Cows calving between August and November 2020 were enrolled from 3 DIM until 90 DIM. Participants were milked 3×/day in a 60-unit rotary parlor and data from each milking session were downloaded from parlor management software. Milking unit kick-off was used as a proxy for habituation to the milking procedure. Kick-off events were reported by the milking system and defined as an abrupt interruption in the milk flow during the milking process. Cow KO events were recorded for each milking session. Subsequently, occurrence of KO was analyzed by grouping the 3 consecutive milking sessions in each day and categorized as yes or no, indicating whether or not an individual kicked at least once in a given day. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and logistic regression, including parity category, calving season, occurrence of dystocia, and their potential interactions in the models. Least squares means for daily proportions of KO were calculated considering the number of cows with KO events per day in the PRI and MUL categories. Subsequently, odds ratios for the occurrence of KO in PRI versus MUL were calculated at multiple periods of time. When KO was analyzed by DIM, proportions of KO were greater in PRI than in MUL during the whole monitoring period. In PRI, proportions of KO increased from 0.10/d to 0.20/d between 3 DIM and 15 DIM, to start decreasing around 30 DIM and remaining above MUL up to 90 DIM. On the contrary, in MUL cows, proportions of KO remained close to 0.05/d during the 90-d period. Overall, the odds of KO were greater for PRI versus MUL cows (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.07 [1.58-2.73]). No differences in milk yield were established among KO categories, while the percentage of cows affected with mastitis was greater in cows grouped in the quartile with more frequent KO events. We concluded that the relationship between days in milk and the proportion of PRI cows displaying KO was not linear, but rather KO increased during the first 2 wk postpartum before decreasing after the first month of lactation. First-parity cows had greater levels of KO than MUL cows, which is most likely associated with the process of habituation to milking during their first lactation.

Beyond Age and Cause: A Multidimensional Characterization of Fatal Farm Injuries in Ireland

The study seeks to enhance understanding of the complex nature of fatal farm injuries and thereby support the development of targeted safety messages or interventions. The research analyses fatal farm injuries surveillance data collected by the Health and Safety Authority (Ireland) for the period 2004-2018. Utilizing Non-Linear Canonical Correlation Analysis (NLCCA) to identify similarities and differences between 274 fatal injuries, multiple interactions and correlations between two sets of variables were identified. The analysis identified two major patterns of injury. The first relates to older farmers (60+) who were killed due to being struck by an object in motion, i.e. a tractor or machine. These injuries occurred mainly during the summer or winter between 13:00 and 18:00 in the Southern-Eastern regions. The second pattern also relates to older farmers, however these fatalities are associated with beef production and the primary cause of injury was being kicked or crushed by livestock. These injuries commonly occur in the Border, Midland, and Western regions where fatalities are prevalent during spring and outside of normal working hours. Assessing interactions between variables demonstrates to whom, how, when, and where fatal injuries affect different groups within the farm population. These findings provide regulators and farm safety stakeholders with key insights into background characteristics of fatal injuries including type of enterprise, time of day, season, and regional location that should be used to develop safety awareness, training, and targeted interventions to at-risk populations.

Towards a Better Understanding of Farm Fatalities: Identification and Estimation of Farming Fatality Rates

OBJECTIVE

Occupational fatality rates are useful in communicating key safety challenges associated with different industries or affecting different populations within those industries. Though seemingly intuitive, the calculation and use of fatality rates associated with farming needs to be carefully considered. This paper highlights difficulties and variability in Farm Fatality Rate (FFR) measures, proposes a series of rates appropriate for assessments of farm safety, and demonstrates their usage through an analysis of farm workplace deaths in Ireland between 2008 and 2016.

METHODS

Six FFRs are calculated including: the Farm Household Rate (FHR); Farm Operator Rate (FOR); Family Worker Rate (FWR), Worker Rate (WR), Seasonal Fatality Rate (SFR) and, Enterprise Fatality Rate (EFR). To assess trends over time we calculate the rate using appropriate numerators and denominators in three sub-periods.

RESULTS

FFRs vary considerably depending on which numerator and denominator are deployed. Over the period, the FHR, FOR, and FWR increased due to growth in the number of fatalities and a slight decrease in the denominator populations. The WR has declined substantially over the full period. The QFR increased substantially for Q2-Q4 whilst the EFR highlights workers on dairy or beef enterprises being particularly at risk.

CONCLUSION

The characteristics of farm workforces present many challenges to the calculation of occupational fatality rates. We propose six alternatives that provide insights into the risks faced by farm households, farm operators, farm workers, seasonally and by type of farm enterprise. We recommend that, regardless of the rate used, the limitations associated with all fatality rates are clearly explained, particularly when engaging with media and occupational health and safety stakeholders.

Assessing Self-reported Occupational Hazards of Manure Applicators in the Upper Midwest

Manure management on farms presents potential risks to human health and safety, including infectious, chemical, and physical exposures that may result in injury or fatality. Toxic gases and confined spaces are among the most common hazards. These hazards are especially salient for the Upper Midwest of the United States. This study characterizes the occupational health and safety practices and experiences of manure applicators in Minnesota. This cross-sectional study surveyed 162 commercial manure applicators about their work characteristics, safety practices, and health and safety experiences. Respondents reported an average of 17 hours per day applying manure during the busy season, which typically occurs several weeks each year. One hundred and thirty-one (90%) of 145 respondents did not regularly use gas monitors during application. Thirty-three (37%) of 90 respondents reported at least one symptom of gas exposure during manure application work. Those that worked with swine manure were more likely to report symptoms of gas exposure than those who did not work with swine (OR 9.5; CI: 2.0, 89.0). Those that had entered confined spaces were more likely to report symptoms of gas exposure than those who had not entered confined spaces (OR 4.4; CI: 0.1, 1.1). Fourteen (9%) of 150 respondents reported being injured when applying manure. Manure work can be hazardous and may be associated with injury and gas exposure. These findings offer a starting point for future research and intervention to protect and improve the health and safety of applicators.

Farm fatalities in Northern Ireland agriculture: What fifty years of data tell us

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous sectors in terms of fatal and non-fatal accidents. This paper utilises an administrative dataset that recorded farm fatalities in Northern Ireland over a 50 year timeframe (1968-2017) to undertake an age-period analysis of accident related mortality rates by sex, cause of death, season, and day of the week. Public policies aimed to improve farm safety should consider that fatalities due to animals have increased while the incidence of deaths due to vehicles and equipment has substantially decreased over the years although it is still the primary cause of death. With respect to age, elderly still actively involved in farming and children in the spring and at week-ends are most exposed to the risk of a fatal accident. Overall, men die on farms five times more than women.

A calm companion lowers fear in groups of dairy cows

Dairy cows are generally calm and compliant, but some management procedures can make cows fearful or stressed. Not only are fearful cattle a threat to human safety, but fear is also detrimental to animal welfare and productivity. This study aimed to test whether fear in small groups of dairy cattle could be attenuated by the presence of a calm and experienced companion. Twenty-seven dairy cows from a Swedish agricultural school participated in the study. The study included a standardized fear-eliciting stimulus, which was 3 sudden, repetitive openings of a red and white umbrella. Demonstrator cows (n = 9) were selected based on age to ensure that all demonstrators were older than the naïve test cows (n = 18). Of these 9 demonstrator cows, 6 were selected as untrained (i.e., habituated to the presence of the test person) and 3 were selected as trained demonstrators (i.e., additionally habituated to the fear-eliciting stimulus). The remaining 18 test cows comprised 6 test-cow groups of 3 cows each, which were their own controls, resulting in a crossover design; 3 groups were tested with a trained demonstrator first and then with an untrained demonstrator, and vice versa for the other 3 groups, resulting in a total of 12 trials (4 sub-treatments). Response variables were heart rate increase from baseline, behavioral reaction indicative of fear, and latency to resume feeding after exposure to the fear-eliciting stimulus. The study found a calming effect of a trained demonstrator on test cows' heart rate but not on latency to resume feeding or behavioral reaction. Post hoc analyses revealed a carryover effect on latency, indicating that test cows who were accompanied by an untrained demonstrator first had longer latencies than cows in all other sub-treatments. Adding a calm, experienced cow to groups of dairy cattle may mitigate fear and thereby improve welfare and safety.

Medicolegal Implications of Fatalities Because of Entanglement in the Augers of Feed Mixer Wagons

ABSTRACT

Feed mixer or total mixed ration mixer wagons are powerful agricultural machines used to shred and mix silage with other ingredients and deliver it direct to the feeding troughs on livestock farms. Fatalities involving these feed mixers may occur when operators become trapped in the augers or, less frequently, are crushed by moving wagons. Death can occur very rapidly because of dismemberment, multiple lesions, or crushing. The aim of this review is to focus on the diagnostic evaluations that need to be performed to confirm that the death was accidental and to exclude a hypothesis of murder or suicide. Forensic investigations in such cases must involve the detailed analysis of the death scene and the mechanical characteristics of the machinery with an accurate postmortem and toxicological examination.

Transnational health protection strategies and other health-seeking behavior among undocumented and indigenous dairy workers in a rural new immigrant destination

Latin American immigrants in new immigrant destinations (NIDs) experience numerous barriers that negatively impact their access to healthcare. Yet the wide range of health-seeking behaviors deployed in response to these barriers-particularly among those who are undocumented and indigenous-are not well understood. Further, studies of immigrant health in NIDs tend to take place in those locations, rather than using a multi-sited design. Building on NID scholarship, the transnational social protection literature, and work on structural vulnerability, this study uses a multi-sited research design to examine the health-seeking behaviors that undocumented and indigenous immigrant workers exhibit in a rural NID. Data consist of interviews conducted intermittently from 2010 to 2017 in Mexico and the U.S. with 56 individuals from indigenous villages in Veracruz who worked on dairy farms in Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as expert interviews. We found numerous barriers to healthcare that together constituted a limited resource environment for undocumented dairy workers. This accentuated their structural vulnerability and influenced responses to health problems. Strategies among undocumented and indigenous immigrant dairy workers in a rural NID included: self-care, delaying care, relying on local ties, cross-border health consultation, cross-border health packages, and returning home for health. Furthermore, we found that women in the family or community often facilitated cross-border health activity, and that traditional folk medicine was common. We argue that these workers' health protection strategies not only serve to secure their individual status as productive workers, but on a larger scale, they play an important part in preserving the migrant labor regime in this rural NID. Further, we argue that the indigenous knowledge that is transmitted largely by women via immigrants' informal social networks is an important yet often invisible part of the carework that maintains this relatively new labor force.

Precarious Essential Work, Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers, and Occupational Health Experiences in Vermont

Migrant dairy workers in Vermont face a wide range of occupational and health hazards at work. This research examines the environmental risks, occupational health hazards, and health outcomes experienced by migrant dairy farm workers in Vermont. This research draws on a triangulation of sources including analysis of data—surveys and interviews with migrant dairy farmworkers gathered by the organization Migrant Justice since 2015 as well as relevant key informant interviews with community organizations across the state to characterize the occupational health experiences of migrant dairy workers in Vermont. Our results show that Vermont migrant dairy farmworkers received poor health and safety training and lacked sufficient protective gear. Over three quarters of the respondents reported experiencing harm from chemical and biological risks. Close to half the survey respondents reported headaches, itchy eyes and cough; a quarter reported breathing difficulties; three fourths reported being hurt by animal-related risks. These exposures and existing health concerns are avoidable. Migrant workers require better social representation and advocates to negotiate better work-related protection and training, access to health services, and social welfare to ensure their health and safety.

Preliminary Study Exploring Caretaker Perspectives of Euthanasia on Swine Operations

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of euthanasia training, caretaker perceptions of euthanasia, and available resources for individuals who perform euthanasia as part of their job on swine operations in the United States. An online survey was distributed via an e-newsletter and in-person recruitment at swine industry events. Survey questions were related to training, attitudes towards performing euthanasia, work environment, and communication. Forty-five responses (17 workers, 21 managers, 7 owners) were recorded and summarized. The majority of workers (n = 14, 82%) agreed that they had "received enough training to euthanize pigs correctly" and that training had made them "confident about performing euthanasia", yet 35% (6) also indicated they would like more euthanasia training. Less than one-third of workers indicated that strategies for dealing with "personal stress" (4, 24%) and "emotional wellness" 29% (5) were included in training programs but the majority (14, 82%) agreed that "trainings included human safety while performing euthanasia". Most caretakers (37, 82%) agreed that they felt they could "communicate with my supervisors" if they felt uncomfortable performing euthanasia. Opportunities for the future include enhancing euthanasia training opportunities and content to include more awareness of strategies to deal with stress related to euthanasia.

A Scoping Review of Safety and Health Interventions in the High-Risk Dairy Industry: Gaps in Evidence Point to Future Directions in Research

The occupational injury rate of the dairy industry (6.6 per 100 full-time workers) is twice that of the national average across all industries (3.3 per 100 full-time workers). While dairy farms are becoming larger in size and fewer in number, this rate has not changed. A scoping review was conducted to identify published reports of occupational safety interventions in the dairy industry. An additional criterion was that the study included an evaluation of the intervention. Out of 22 articles that met the first criterion (discussion of interventions specific to the dairy industry), 19 met the second of having an evaluative component. These 19 articles corresponded to 16 unique studies, because 4 articles corresponded to the same study. Of the 16 unique studies, only 3 had a comparison of treatment vs. control effects, and none measured the impact of the intervention on injuries and fatalities. Of the 16 interventions, 6 were focused on training or informational campaigns in which the evaluations primarily measured knowledge acquisition. Additionally, none of these studies had a sufficient sample size to compare injury rates as an outcome. Our study demonstrates that the literature lacks any rigorous evaluation of whether dairy safety interventions are making an impact on injury prevention. Given this, it is not possible to determine how work-related injuries and deaths can be prevented in the dairy industry. Recommendations for future research include incorporating rigorous evaluation into research designs and attempting to develop low-cost, unobtrusive methods for collecting data on intermediate and final outcomes.

Opportunities for improving the safety of dairy parlor workers

One aspect of a successful dairy business is attracting and retaining skilled staff. The ability to do this is influenced by workplace attractiveness, one aspect of which is worker comfort and safety. Working with heavy machinery and animals makes dairy farming a dangerous occupation relative to many other sectors. Milking is the most time-consuming task on pasture-based dairy farms, and the parlor is the logical site of a number of injuries, although little is known about their causes or their relationship to parlor design and management. To investigate worker safety further, we conducted an on-farm survey on New Zealand dairy farms between December 2018 and March 2019. The survey had 3 objectives: to identify common causes of injuries relating to milking; to describe variations in milking parlor design and management practices on dairy farms; and to identify management and parlor factors that contribute to milking injuries. Analysis of accident compensation data from the state-run accident insurer for a 5-yr period from July 2013 to June 2018 was a fourth objective. Accident claims identified as related to milking through a key word search averaged NZ$252 (NZ$1 was equivalent to US$0.60 on May 19, 2020) per claim for non-severe injuries and NZ$9,334 per claim for severe injuries, for a total of NZ$1.95 million per year. A total of 136 injuries were reported on 99 of the 560 farms surveyed, and accident insurance claims were made for 53 of these injuries. The survey found that 48% of injuries occurred while workers were attaching clusters: typically soft-tissue and fracture injuries to fingers, hands, wrists, and arms. Injuries to these body parts represented the greatest cost (51% of the annual insurance cost) and identified safe cluster attachment as an area of focus for reducing milking injuries. Potential low-cost solutions include improved cluster design and a hand-arm guard. We identified a clear seasonal trend that coincided with busy periods in a seasonal block calving system, suggesting that options to reduce fatigue in spring may be beneficial; however, the number of hours worked or number of consecutive days worked were not associated with the number of milking injuries. Those aged 20-29 yr had more injuries relative to their proportion of the workforce, indicating that more training may be beneficial (e.g., setting ergonomic milking routines). Female workers were at greater risk of injury than males; this finding may have been related to the height of the animal relative to the height of the milker.

A Review of Potential Public Health Impacts Associated With the Global Dairy Sector

Strong demand for dairy products has led to a global increase in dairy production. In many parts of the world, dairy systems are undergoing rapid intensification. While increased production may contribute to food security, higher dairy stocking rates in some regions have resulted in increased pressure on natural resources with the potential to affect public health and wellbeing. The aim of this review was to identify and describe the potential health harms and benefits associated with dairy production and consumption. Electronic databases Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched for published literature that investigated human health impacts of dairy production and consumption. Occupational hazards, environmental health impacts, ecosystem health impacts, foodborne hazards, and diet-related chronic diseases were identified as potential public health hazards. Some impacts, notably climate change, extend beyond directly exposed populations. Dairy production and consumption are also associated with important health benefits through the provision of nutrients and economic opportunities. As the global dairy sector increases production, exposure to a range of hazards must be weighed with these benefits. The review of impacts presented here can provide an input into decision making about optimal levels of dairy production and consumption, local land use, and identification and management of specific hazards from this sector. Future research should consider multiple exposure routes, socioeconomic implications, and environmental factors, particularly in regions heavily dependent on dairy farming.

Applying an environmental public health lens to the industrialization of food animal production in ten low- and middle-income countries

Background

Industrial food animal production (IFAP) is characterized by dense animal housing, high throughput, specialization, vertical integration, and corporate consolidation. Research in high-income countries has documented impacts on public health, the environment, and animal welfare. IFAP is proliferating in some low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where increased consumption of animal-source foods has occurred alongside rising incomes and efforts to address undernutrition. However, in these countries IFAP’s negative externalities could be amplified by inadequate infrastructure and resources to document issues and implement controls.

Methods

Using UN FAOSTAT data, we selected ten LMICs where food animal production is expanding and assessed patterns of IFAP growth. We conducted a mixed methods review to explore factors affecting growth, evidence of impacts, and information gaps; we searched several databases for sources in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Data were extracted from 450+ sources, comprising peer-reviewed literature, government documents, NGO reports, and news articles.

Results

In the selected LMICs, not only has livestock production increased, but the nature of expansion appears to have involved industrialized methods, to varying extents based on species and location. Expansion was promoted in some countries by explicit government policies. Animal densities, corporate structure, and pharmaceutical reliance in some areas mirrored conditions found in high-income countries. There were many reported weaknesses in regulation and capacity for enforcement surrounding production and animal welfare. Global trade increasingly influences movement of and access to inputs such as feed. There was a nascent, compelling body of scientific literature documenting IFAP’s negative environmental and public health externalities in some countries.

Conclusions

LMICs may be attracted to IFAP for economic development and food security, as well as the potential for increasing access to animal-source foods and the role these foods can play in alleviating undernutrition. IFAP, however, is resource intensive. Industrialized production methods likely result in serious negative public health, environmental, and animal welfare impacts in LMICs. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic effort to assess IFAP trends through an environmental public health lens for a relatively large group of LMICs. It contributes to the literature by outlining urgent research priorities aimed at informing national and international decisions about the future of food animal production and efforts to tackle global undernutrition.

Aplicación de la teoría de aprendizaje en el entrenamiento acerca de seguridad y salud para trabajadores inmigrantes en las lecherías

Resumen Con el propósito de prevenir lesiones y enfermedades ocupacionales, diseñamos un currículo de seguridad y salud para trabajadores inmigrantes en la industria lechera para aumentar el conocimiento, fomentar prácticas de seguridad, y reducir inequidades en la comunicación. El currículo se basa principalmente en la Taxonomía para el Aprendizaje Significativo-TAS ( Taxonomy of Significant Learning) e incorpora teorías de la conducta y de aprendizaje para adultos, así como también los principios de control de riesgos ocupacionales. Los entrenamientos se implementaron con 836 trabajadores de habla hispana de 67 lecherías en el estado de Wisconsin, en los Estados Unidos. El 67% de los trabajadores reportaron nunca haber recibido entrenamiento acerca de la seguridad en las lecherías, el 65% reportó haber trabajado en lecherías durante 5 años o menos, y el 26% de los trabajadores reportaron haber sufrido alguna lesión mientras trabajaban en la lechería. La evaluación cuantitativa y cualitativa de los entrenamientos sugiere que nuestro currículo efectivamente aumentó el conocimiento y fomentó la contemplación de prácticas de seguridad de los trabajadores. El aumento del conocimiento en general del 25% es estadísticamente significativo (p < .01). Los trabajadores recordaron al menos un concepto clave del contenido, expresaron sentirse confiados en adoptar al menos una conducta de seguridad, y mencionaron su intención de comunicar sus preocupaciones de seguridad a sus jefes en la lechería. De acuerdo a nuestro conocimiento, esta es la primera vez que se aplica la TAS en la educación acerca de seguridad y salud ocupacional. Este currículo puede ayudar a los productores en la industria lechera a cumplir con el entrenamiento anual de los trabajadores requerido por la Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional de los E. U. ( Occupational Safety and Health Administration-OSHA), ofreciendo este entrenamiento básico en seguridad y salud a sus trabajadores durante su etapa inicial de empleo.

A Preliminary Analysis of Immigrant Cattle Feedyard Worker Perspectives on Job-Related Safety Training

Immigrants comprise a large percentage of the agricultural labor force in the United States. They are a vulnerable worker population and often have fewer occupational and social protections. Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers (N = 68; 59 men; mean age = 38.7 years) in the central Midwest reported on their perceptions and preferences for job-related safety training and practices. Preliminary findings indicate that approximately 40% of workers reported that they had not received any health or safety training from their current employer, and only about 13% had ever participated in any Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety training program. In-person training, videos, or shadowing another worker were the most frequent methods of safety training reported by those who had received training. More than 90% were interested in receiving more information about health and safety related to their job. Workers preferred that safety information be provided through in-person training at the job site, videos (particularly those accessible through media sources such as YouTube), and written materials. Specific topics that workers were interested in obtaining more information about included zoonoses, low-stress cattle handling, injury prevention, hazard and injury reporting, chemical and equipment safety, and teamwork. Furthermore, a majority of participants preferred to receive information in Spanish. Results may help guide the development of future materials and training strategies to better suit the needs of the growing immigrant workforce in production agriculture.

An overview and impact assessment of OSHA large dairy local emphasis programs in New York and Wisconsin

BACKGROUND

Farming has been exempted from most labor regulations and shielded from regulatory scrutiny by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Yet, agriculture and dairy in particular, has relatively high injury and fatality rates.

METHODS

A recent shift in OSHA's approach to agricultural worker safety and health includes two dairy-focused Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs), one launched in Wisconsin in 2011 and the other in New York in 2014. We examine data from LEP-related, OSHA consultations and inspections as well as non-governmental audit programs, and review farmer perceptions about the LEP.

RESULTS

Inspections conducted by OSHA and private consultation programs highlight the presence and variety of hazards on dairy farms in Wisconsin and New York.

CONCLUSION

The LEPs helped raise dairy producers' awareness of inherent hazards and methods to correct them. Farmers cited the LEP as beneficial, identifying it as a catalyst to reduce hazards on their farms.

Predictors of Attitudes Toward Non-Technical Skills in Farming

OBJECTIVES

Farming is a high-risk sector with up to 170,000 worldwide fatalities reported per year; it is therefore vital to identify methods of mitigating the dangers of this industry. Research within high-risk industries, such as aviation, shipping, and agriculture, has identified the importance of non-technical skills (NTS) in maintaining effective, safe performance and reducing error and injury. However, there is a lack of research evaluating factors that may contribute to NTS attitudes and behaviors. As a first step to address this literature gap, the current study evaluated a range of individual and environmental factors as potential predictors of attitudes toward NTS in agriculture.

METHOD

A sample of 170 farmers from within the United Kingdom and Ireland were surveyed using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included measures of personality, stress, attitudes toward safety (safety climate, motivation, and risk), environmental stressors (workload, work-life imbalance), and non-technical skills (team and lone worker).

RESULTS

Attitudes toward safety climate, compliance, and motivation showed a significant association with both team-based and lone worker NTS. Conscientiousness correlated positively with the majority of the NTS elements. Multiple regression analysis indicated neuroticism and conscientiousness demonstrated capacity to predict NTS attitudes. Concerns about costs and equipment, attitudes toward safety climate, and safety motivation were also found to be significant predictors of NTS attitudes.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate the utility of individual characteristics and environmental factors when predicting farming NTS attitudes. As a result, these elements could be important when evaluating engagement with NTS and developing NTS training initiatives in agriculture.

Applying Learning Theory to Safety and Health Training for Hispanic Immigrant Dairy Workers

We designed a safety and health curriculum for dairy immigrant workers aiming to increase knowledge, encourage safe behavior, and reduce worker communication inequalities to prevent occupational injury and diseases. The design is largely based on the Taxonomy of Significant Learning and incorporated behavioral and adult learning theories and principles of occupational hazard control. Trainings were implemented with 836 Spanish-speaking workers from 67 farms in Wisconsin. Sixty-seven percent of workers reported never being trained before in dairy safety, 65% of these worked in dairy for 5 or fewers years, and 26% of workers reported being ever injured while working on dairy. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the trainings suggest that our curriculum successfully increased worker knowledge and promoted contemplation of safe practices. The overall knowledge gain of 25% was statistically significant ( p < .01). Workers recalled at least one key concept, expressed confidence of adopting at least one safety behavior, and mentioned their intention to communicate safety concerns to farmers. To our knowledge, this is the first Taxonomy of Significant Learning application to occupational safety and health education. Our curriculum can support dairy farmers' compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration's annual training requirements by providing our basic safety and health training to workers at early job stages.

Socio-environmental risk factors for medically-attended agricultural injuries in Wisconsin dairy farmers

BACKGROUND

Accidents are common in the agricultural industry, particularly among dairy farmers. How said farmers get hurt is well established, but far less is known about how distal, socio-environmental factors influence injuries. This study examined associations between medically-attended agricultural injuries and: (1) personal sociodemographic characteristics, and (2) farm environment features and general safety practices.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was implemented with linked data from electronic health records on prior agricultural injuries that occurred between 01/01/2002-12/31/2015. The sample included adult dairy producers who resided in north-central Wisconsin (USA) and were medically-homed to the Marshfield Clinic Health System. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze associations between socio-environmental characteristics and agricultural injuries.

RESULTS

There were 620 dairy farmers in the analytical sample, with 50 medically-attended agricultural injuries observed during the 14-year study time period (5.7 injuries per 1000 dairy farmers per year). In the multivariable model, the odds of agricultural injury were significantly greater among farmers who have private individually-purchased health insurance (OR=4.25; 95% CI: 1.31, 13.84), do not live at their dairy operation (OR=2.91; CI: 1.27, 6.67), and do not provide safety training to their workers (OR=4.27; CI: 1.00, 18.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Dairy farmers in this analysis who did not live at their dairy operation, did not provide safety training to all their workers, or had individually-purchased health insurance were more apt to get injured, but more research is needed to confirm these findings in prospectively designed studies. How these factors can be directly addressed or otherwise used to better focus farm injury prevention initiatives should also be explored.

A Guide to the Design of Occupational Safety and Health Training for Immigrant, Latino/a Dairy Workers

Industrialized dairy production in the U.S. relies on an immigrant, primarily Latino/a, workforce to meet greater production demands. Given the high rates of injuries and illnesses on U.S. dairies, there is pressing need to develop culturally appropriate training to promote safe practices among immigrant, Latino/a dairy workers. To date, there have been few published research articles or guidelines specific to developing effective occupational safety and health (OSH) training for immigrant, Latino/a workers in the dairy industry. Literature relevant to safety training for immigrant workers in agriculture and other high-risk industries (e.g., construction) was examined to identify promising approaches. The aim of this paper is to provide a practical guide for researchers and practitioners involved in the design and implementation of effective OSH training programs for immigrant, Latino/a workers in the dairy industry. The search was restricted to peer-reviewed academic journals and guidelines published between 1980 and 2015 by universities or extension programs, written in English, and related to health and safety training among immigrant, Latino/a workers within agriculture and other high-risk industries. Relevant recommendations regarding effective training transfer were also included from literature in the field of industrial-organizational psychology. A total of 97 articles were identified, of which 65 met the inclusion criteria and made a unique and significant contribution. The review revealed a number of promising strategies for how to effectively tailor health and safety training for immigrant, Latino/a workers in the dairy industry grouped under five main themes: (1) understanding and involving workers; (2) training content and materials; (3) training methods; (4) maximizing worker engagement; and (5) program evaluation. The identification of best practices in the design and implementation of training programs for immigrant, Latino/a workers within agriculture and other high-risk industries can inform the development of more effective and sustainable health and safety training for immigrant, Latino/a dairy workers in the U.S. and other countries.

Awareness and Need for Knowledge of Health and Safety among Dairy Farmers Interviewed in Uganda

Introduction

Safe working conditions are essential for healthy living and for ensuring food security among farmers and farm communities in developing countries. There is limited research on this topic, and documentation is essential to understand and change patterns of human health and safety.

Methods

In May 2014, six male and female farmers on four dairy farms in Uganda and a female veterinarian were interviewed about their awareness and attitudes to agricultural risk factors, health, and safety. In addition, transect walks were conducted on the four dairy farms.

Results

The dairy farmers reported health and safety concerns, e.g., diarrhea, coughs, fever, cuts while using machetes in plantations, bruises when handling animals, and dizziness and poisoning symptoms from using different agrochemicals, and considered these an occupational hazard. The most important topic mentioned was the use of agrochemicals and drugs on livestock. The farmers spray their animals with insecticides to prevent ticks, lice, tsetse flies, and other biting nuisance flies, using a backpack or hand sprayer. Spraying is conducted without personal protection equipment, which is considered too expensive and difficult to obtain. The farmers reported that they usually feel dizzy, vomit, and have pain and a burning feeling in their face and eyes after spraying. The symptoms are sometimes so severe that they require treatment. In such cases, the farmers buy medication without a prescription at the local drugstore, where the storekeeper often has limited or no knowledge of agrochemicals or drugs except for dosage. Agricultural health and safety training in the region is non-existent, and the farmers expressed a need and desire for improvements in this area.

Conclusion

The level of knowledge and awareness of agricultural health and safety risks, disease, and injury prevention among the Ugandan dairy farmers interviewed was low. The farmers mentioned few agriculture-related complaints, injuries, or diseases except poisoning from using agrochemicals. Training on health and safety in Ugandan agriculture is urgently needed.

Human-animal interactions and safety during dairy cattle handling--Comparing moving cows to milking and hoof trimming

Cattle handling is a dangerous activity on dairy farms, and cows are a major cause of injuries to livestock handlers. Even if dairy cows are generally tranquil and docile, when situations occur that they perceive or remember as aversive, they may become agitated and hazardous to handle. This study aimed to compare human-animal interactions, cow behavior, and handler safety when moving cows to daily milking and moving cows to more rarely occurring and possibly aversive hoof trimming. These processes were observed on 12 Swedish commercial dairy farms. The study included behavioral observations of handler and cows and cow heart rate recordings, as well as recording frequencies of situations and incidents related to an increased injury risk to the handler. At milking, cows were quite easily moved using few interactions. As expected, the cows showed no behavioral signs of stress, fear, or resistance and their heart rate only rose slightly from the baseline (i.e., the average heart rate during an undisturbed period before handling). Moving cows to hoof trimming involved more forceful and gentle interactions compared with moving cows to milking. Furthermore, the cows showed much higher frequencies of behaviors indicative of aversion and fear (e.g., freezing, balking, and resistance), as well as a higher increase in heart rate. The risk of injury to which handlers were exposed also increased when moving cows to hoof trimming rather than to routine milking. Some interactions (such as forceful tactile interactions with an object and pulling a neck strap or halter) appeared to be related to potentially dangerous incidents where the handler was being kicked, head-butted, or run over by a cow. In conclusion, moving cows to hoof trimming resulted in higher frequencies of behaviors indicating fear, more forceful interactions, and increased injury risks to the handler than moving cows to milking. Improving potentially stressful handling procedures (e.g., by better animal handling practices and preparation of cows to cope with such procedures) can increase handler safety, animal welfare, ease of handling, and efficiency.