Oh, My Aching Back!
Farm work is hard work, and farm workers feel the results. Farm workers get
backaches and pains in the shoulders, arms, and hands more than any other health
problem. A third of the injuries that cause them to miss work are sprains and
strains, and a quarter are back injuries. These are also the most common causes of
disability.
NIOSH
believes
that better
work practices
and
tools will
reduce the
sprains and
strains
of farm
work.
The technical term for these sprains and strains is "work-related musculoskeletal
disorders" (WMSDs). WMSDs hurt! They hurt:
- workers' bodies
- workers' earnings
- growers' profits
In California agriculture alone, the annual workers' compensation costs for
the more than 3,000 back injuries that happen each year may be over $22 million.
This pamphlet is about early intervention to prevent such injuries. It is directed
toward growers, safety specialists, human resources managers-anyone with
an interest in having safe farms.
Over the years, many kinds of farm work have not changed much at all. Field
work is still done in a stooped position. Workers carry heavy weights in awkward
positions, kneel often, work with their arms above shoulder level, or move their
hands and wrists repetitively. Sometimes the whole body is subject to vibration
from farm equipment. When workers are paid on piece rate, they have a reason to
keep up a rapid, sustained pace. Overexertion intensifies all the other risk factors.
Many people in the farm industry may believe that these kinds of tasks-and
the resulting sprains and strains-are just an unavoidable part of farm work. But
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) asked university
researchers, specialists in the science of ergonomics, to look into how farm work
could be made safer. They worked with growers and employees on different types
of farms to come up with some simple, practical, inexpensive solutions. This
pamphlet is a result of that hands-on cooperation.
As you read this pamphlet, the specific solutions may or may not apply to
your particular operation. But we think you'll learn three things from it anyway:
- what sorts of work are most likely to cause injuries
- basic ergonomic rules of thumb for working more safely
- inspiration to sit down with employees and come up with some simple
solutions of your own
The ideas in this pamphlet can be adapted for many types of crops and for
different sizes of farm operation.
Don't get discouraged if some solutions seem out of reach. A small tool
change or adjustment in the work layout can make a big difference in preventing
injuries. Good luck!
These
suggestions
can be
adapted
for your
own
farm.
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