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Anthony
Tilma, Robert
Wilkinson
Michigan State University Extension
Much
of the agricultural production work in the United States is
done outdoors; however, many tasks are done indoors. For example,
animals are kept indoors in confinement operations; fruit
sorting and packing work is sheltered or performed indoors;
most plant nurseries are inside operations; and maintenance
and repair tasks are done inside buildings or under shelters
whenever possible.
Consideration
for animal and plant welfare should be a major concern in
farm building design because produce is the revenue source,
but the health and safety of the people who work inside the
same buildings or shelters also have to be considered.
Technology
has done much to improve the environment indoors for people,
animals, and plants, but there arc still many problems when
people and animals or people and plants have to share the
same environment.
Safety
should be foremost in any new design plans for buildings and
machinery or equipment, but comfort is also a controlling
factor. Animals and people both perform better when comfortable
and better performance increases the chances for safer farm
work.
The level
of comfort of an individual person or animal is influenced
by environmental conditions such as climatic atmosphere, space,
and light. Over many centuries engineers have endeavored to
make work easier. Modem developments have done much to improve
the working environment for agricultural operations.
Climatic Comfort
There are four important climatic factors:
- (1)
air temperature
- (2)
air velocity
- (3)
humidity
- (4)
radiation temperature.
Air temperature
is controlled by air conditioning and heating and much of today's
modem outdoor farm equipment is equipped with air conditioners.
This contributes to safety because enclosed cabs and filter
systems on air conditioning systems reduce the amount of dust,
spores, and potentially toxic particles breathed by machinery
and equipment operators. In the summer, air conditioning allows
longer work periods without endangering health due to dehydration,
sunburn, sun stroke or heat exhaustion, and fatigue.
The most
efficient operating temperature and conditions for humans
is rarely the same as temperature and conditions for animals.
Because comfort for the animals is important for production,
people have to find ways to make working in animal environments
more acceptable. Some ways to reduce exposure or exposure
time include: Using mechanical help to reduce the time spent
in an animal-dominated environment. Rotating chores among
workers whenever possible. Using special clothing and equipment,
such as dust filters or a respirator, when necessary to protect
oneself or to provide more personal comfort. Separating human
work areas from areas where the animals are kept. Separate
rooms with conditions set for human comfort allow workers
to be close to the animals without spending all their work
time in the animals' environment. Keeping up-to-date on new
developments and enlisting the help of Cooperative Extension
Service and animal environment consultants to determine what
changes can be made and how to make them in a specific enterprise.
Lighting
Technology has helped us develop artificial lighting. Most indoor
work requires artificial lighting and artificial illumination
is provided on tractors, combine-harvesters, and other machinery
for work after dark during periods of peak activity.
Four
aspects of lighting should be considered whether artificial
illumination is employed or daylight through windows is used.
- (1)
Intensity
- (2)
Contrast
- (3)
Glare and flicker
- (4)
Color
Light intensity
is measurable and is expressed in lux (lumens per square foot).
For efficient work, the required level of illumination will
depend on:
- (a)
the size of objects with which a farmer works.
- (b)contrast
between the objects and the immediate surroundings.
- (c)
reflectivity of the object.
- (d)
time allowed for seeing the object.
- (e)
the age and visual health of the worker.
All tasks
on the farm will not require the same amount of illumination
nor the same type of illumination source.
Contrast
is used to help distinguish between the objects of importance
(the work piece) and the back-ground. Avoid sharp contrasts,
especially for work in animal areas where shadows can cause
animals to spook.
Glare
occurs when the field of view contains areas of high brightness
that interfere with vision of the normal task. Limited amounts
of glare may cause only annoyance, but unexpected bright glare
may be a hazard if a worker is temporarily blinded.
Causes
of glare include:
- direct
sunlight,
- bare
lamps,
- reflections
of light or bright sources in glossy or highly reflecting
surfaces, such as glass or mirrors, and
- excessive
differences in illumination of adjacent areas.
Flicker
is annoying, especially when noticed in the peripheral line
of vision. Fluorescent tubes can cause noticeable flicker. Flicker
may also be more notice-able with bluer lamps than with tedder
ones. Besides being annoying, flicker can cause headaches.
Discharge
lamps such as florescent lights can Rose a serious danger
when serving as the source of light in areas where rotating
or reciprocating machinery is used. The stroboscopic effect
occurs when the machinery rotates but appears to be slower
moving. The optical effects with moving objects and this type
of lighting can be deceiving.
Color
of illumination can be used to advantage for contrasting the
work task or to psychologically enhance the working environment.
Some colors are considered to be "cool" colors while others
are "hot" colors. Temperature effects can be changed by the
use of color without changing equipment or control settings.
Colored
light is also helpful when used to help mark obstacles or
highlight controls, such as red for emergency purposes.
Colored
light can be harmful when it distorts natural colors, lowers
contrast, or decreases working efficiency. In these situations
colored light indirectly increases the risk of injury.
Remember
that human eyes do not see all colors equally well and that
different animals are sensitive to different colors.
Computers
and Programmable Electrical Controllers
Computers are playing an increasingly important role in agricultural work. Safety is enhanced while the drudgery of various types of farm work is reduced. The list of uses for computers in agricultural applications is continually growing.
Computers
and controllers are used to control equipment designed to
maintain climatic comfort inside buildings. Ventilating systems
and fans, furnaces, and air conditioners are turned on and
off according to preprogrammed temperature and humidity settings.
Computers
and/or programmable motor controls can be programmed to control
lights.
Computer-controlled
operations such as feeding and cleaning reduce the chore time
workers spend in animal housing environments, minimize the
amount of fertilizers and pesticides placed in the field,
and help sort and grade fruit.
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Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
Anthony
Tilma, graduate research assistant, Agricultural
Engineering, and
Robert
Wilkinson, Agricultural Engineering, Cooperative Extension
Funding provided by the Michigan Agricultural Health Promotion
Project, a cooperative agreement among Agricultural Engineering,
the Cooperative Extension Service Agricultural Safety Program,
the College of Human Medicine and the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.
Service,
Michigan State University, 5/92 This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names
does not imply endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service
or bias against those not mentioned. Cooperative Extension
Service programs are open to all without regard to race, color,
national origin, sex or handicap. MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal
Opportunity Institution.
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