Assessment of musculoskeltal system pain complaints reported by forestry workers.

INTRODUCTION: According to the European Occupational Diseases Statistics (EODS-2005) diseases related with musculoskeletal disorders occupy the first position on the obligatory list of occupational diseases. These disorders most frequently occur in the agriculture-hunting-forestry sector in such countries as: Finland, Holland, Germany, France and Spain (data: EU-OSHA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included a selected group of males - 414 forestry workers, employees of the State Forests, aged 25-65, mean age 48. The control group were 119 office workers aged 23-64, mean age 45.8. The basic research instrument was a questionnaire designed by specialists concerning pain complaints occurring in 7 areas of the motor system: neck, arms, upper and lower back, hips, knees and feet. RESULTS: The results of the survey showed that in the selected group of forestry workers, among 7 investigated areas of the motor system, the most frequently reported pain complaints involved the lower part of the spine (272 persons, 65.7% of the total number of respondents). In the control group such pain complaints occurred in 55.5% (66) of office workers (p = 0.04). Forestry workers most often described this pain as permanent, radiating to the leg, or as an acute pain. According to the frequency of reporting pain, the area of the knees was placed on the second position (214 foresters; 51.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The work of a forester which consist, among other things, in relocation on foot or by vehicle over long distances along an uneven terrain and in various weather conditions, is a risk factor of the occurrence of musculosceletal disorders concerning the low back and knees.

Assessment of the type of farmers' low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Spinal overload among blue-collar workers occurs most frequently in the lumbar spine. Long-lasting spinal overload results in pain syndromes leading to limitations in everyday and professional life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research included 106 adult males working as farmers for at least 10 years. The control group included 50 male white-collar workers. Four research tools were used: an interview questionnaire, a questionnaire assessing pain intensity and limitations in everyday functioning of study participants, a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) measuring pain intensity and Oswestry Disability Index. RESULTS: The research revealed that as many as 86% of the farmers (91 individuals) experienced low back pain. In the control group only 64% of all the white-collar workers complained of pain in this part of the spine. The farmers defined their low back pain as constant pain or stiffness significantly more often. In addition, they reported hip pain radiating to one or 2 legs and experienced chronic and acute back pain more frequently. The total time in which they experienced this pain was usually 11-20 years. The correlation between pain intensity measured on a numeric scale and the level of disability of farmers was revealed. CONCLUSIONS: The research revealed that individual farmers complained of low back pain significantly more often. The pain was usually defined as constant pain, chronic pain, acute pain or hip pain radiating to legs. Med Pr 2018;69(4):355-364.

Assessment of annual exposure of private farmers to whole body mechanical vibration on selected family farms of plant production profile.

The objective of the study was evaluation of an annual exposure of private farmers to whole body mechanical vibration on selected family farms of plant production profile. The study covered 15 family farms, using arable land of the size of 10-50 ha (22.3 ha on average), engaged mainly in plant production, and equipped with tractors, tractor-mounted agricultural machinery, with a partial contribution of self-propelled machines. The scope of the study covered the carrying out of time schedules of agricultural activities, and measurements of effective values (RMS) for vibration acceleration (equivalent), frequency corrected, on the seats of farm vehicles in 3 spatial directions of vibration (X, Y, Z). The measurements were made while performing various basic field and transport work activities during the period of the whole year. The study showed (plant production) that the degree of whole body mechanical vibration load among farmers during the whole year depends on the vibration level and duration of exposure to this factor. The highest values of the total vibration dose (d) occur both during summer-autumn months (August, September, October and November), and in spring (April, May). The mean equivalent of daily vibration acceleration shows the highest values during 4 months of the year: April and May (0.52 m/s(2)), and in August and September (0.56-0.57 m/s(2)); the average value of this parameter, for the whole year, reaches the level of 0.45 m/s(2). Considering the fact of the occurrence of mechanical shocks in agricultural vehicles (high maximum accelerations values registered: 0.81-1.01 m/s(2); standard exceeding), and exceeding of the daily exposure action value, proper steps should be undertaken with respect to the protection of private farmers against risk resulting from exposure to mechanical vibration while performing work activities.

[Assessment of annual exposure of private farmers to the whole body mechanical vibration on selected family farms of animal production profile]. / Ocena calorocznej ekspozycji rolników indywidualny na drgania mechaniczne oddzialujace na cale cialo w wybranych gospodarstwach rodzinnych o profilu produkcji zwierzecej.

BACKGROUND: Besides noise, mechanical vibration of a general effect (whole body vibration), is an important physical risk factor that occurrs in the farmers' work environment. The vibration occurs on the seats of agricultural vehicles in motion, during the performance of specified field and transportation work tasks. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study covered the measurements of time schedules of agricultural activities, and effective values (RMS) for frequency of weighted vibration acceleration (equivalent), frequency corrected, on the seats of farm vehicles in three spatial directions of vibration (X,Y,Z) throughout the year. The basic vibration parameter was the dose (d). The following values were determined: total monthly vibration dose, mean equivalent daily vibration dose and mean equivalent daily vibration acceleration. RESULTS: The highest values of the total monthly vibration dose occur both during summer-autumn months (August, September), and in spring (April, May). The mean equivalent daily vibration acceleration shows the highest values during four months of the year: April and May (0.50-0.53 m/s2), and August and September (0.47-0.50 m/s2); the average value of this parameter, for the whole year, reaches the level of0.37 m/s2. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the fact that mechanical shocks occur in agricultural vehicles (mean maximum accelerations values registered: 0.86-0.99 m/s2; standard exceeding), and the threshold level of vibration exceeds the required values, adequate steps should be undertaken to protect private farmers against the risk resulting from exposure to mechanical vibration while performing their work.

[Assessment of annual exposure to noise and risk of occupational hearing loss among private farmers specializing in plant production]. / Ocena calorocznej ekspozycji na halas rolników indywidualnych wwybranych gospodarstwach rodzinnych o profilu produkcji roslinnej.

BACKGROUND: In agriculture noise is the most frequent hazard, but until now very poorly recognized. It affects the hearing organ in private farmers. Because of a great variety of machines used on farms and a changing magnitude of exposure to noise, this agent has to be studied over the whole annual cycle. The aim of the study was to recognize and evaluate annual exposure to noise among private farmers engaged in plant production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study covered 17 family farms with arable land, ranging from 10 to 50 ha (mean, 22.3 ha). They were equipped with agricultural tractors and a set of agricultural accessories, wood-cutting saws, self-propelled and workshop machines. Based on detailed time-schedule records of agricultural activities and dosimetric measurements conducted during the whole year, two acoustic parameters were determined, total monthly exposure and equivalent daily exposure. RESULTS: The study showed that the highest values of the total monthly exposure to noise (E(A,T)) occurred in the summer-autumn (July, September, October) and winter (December, January) seasons. During the former, the degree of noise load among farmers was directly associated with intensity of field works and transport activities, whereas during the latter with the frequency of using wood-cutting machines and repair activities. The calculated mean equivalent daily exposure to noise revealed the highest values in two months, December (6.01 Pa2 h) and September (5.51 Pa2 h), and the lowest values were observed in the other months (3.67-4.28 Pa2 h). The mean value for the whole year was 4.35 Pa2 h (the standard was exceeded by 4.4 times). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the mean annual noise load among farmers engaged in plant production was characterized by the level equal to 91.3 dB-A with the highest hearing risk in December and September. In those two months, maximum allowable exposure to noise was exceeded by six times (E(A,8h)). Owing to the precision of the obtained values and their strong uniformity, they may be used in practice by relevant services to evaluate the degree of noise risk among private farmers engaged in plant production.