Agriculture employs over 1.3 billion people throughout the world, or close to 40 percent of the global workforce and, like any other work environment, it presents a series of risk factors related to occupational accidents and diseases.
In fact, a slight but steady increase in the number of agricultural occupational disease cases has been recorded over the past few years in Europe and these records are always more accurate thanks to awareness campaigns and to scientific know-how. Uneven terrain, sudden weather changes, use of large machines and exposure to an ever increasing amount and variety of chemicals substances are some of the main occupational risk factors in the agricultural sector.
Occupational diseases of farm workers
According to European accidents at work statistics the majority of occupational diseases in agriculture have to do with the musculoskeletal region, i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis or vertebrae disorders, caused by repeated handling of loads or the use of heavy, non ergonomic tools.
Damage to the respiratory system due to prolonged exposure to the elements and the use of agrichemicals is also high on the statistics list. Inhaling pesticides can cause acute poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, pressure drop, diarrhoea, chronic breathing difficulties and potential carcinogenic hazards as well.
How can one protect oneself from these diseases?
Although it is impossible to eliminate risk completely, it is nevertheless necessary to:
1. raise awareness among workers in the farming industry
2. improve safety and health surveillance procedures
Furthermore, specific personal protective equipment, is fundamental for all who work with pesticides:
The PPE used must be CE certified and bear the CE mark of conformity. Employers are obliged to train their workers on the use and maintenance of PPE. A good example is the 2010 Lombardy Region protocol which establishes a Regional Integrated Prevention Scheme, to ensure both an exhaustive training of general practitioners (often the first real interface with farmers) and the implementation of a medical check-up program targeted to the farmers themselves. An all rounder preventive action, therefore, to reduce the proportion of these diseases and improve the therapeutic possibilities should these arise.
Oct 3 2016
What are the occupational diseases that can affect farm workers?
Agriculture employs over 1.3 billion people throughout the world, or close to 40 percent of the global workforce and, like any other work environment, it presents a series of risk factors related to occupational accidents and diseases.
In fact, a slight but steady increase in the number of agricultural occupational disease cases has been recorded over the past few years in Europe and these records are always more accurate thanks to awareness campaigns and to scientific know-how. Uneven terrain, sudden weather changes, use of large machines and exposure to an ever increasing amount and variety of chemicals substances are some of the main occupational risk factors in the agricultural sector.
Occupational diseases of farm workers
According to European accidents at work statistics the majority of occupational diseases in agriculture have to do with the musculoskeletal region, i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis or vertebrae disorders, caused by repeated handling of loads or the use of heavy, non ergonomic tools.
Damage to the respiratory system due to prolonged exposure to the elements and the use of agrichemicals is also high on the statistics list. Inhaling pesticides can cause acute poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, pressure drop, diarrhoea, chronic breathing difficulties and potential carcinogenic hazards as well.
How can one protect oneself from these diseases?
Although it is impossible to eliminate risk completely, it is nevertheless necessary to:
1. raise awareness among workers in the farming industry
2. improve safety and health surveillance procedures
Furthermore, specific personal protective equipment, is fundamental for all who work with pesticides:
The PPE used must be CE certified and bear the CE mark of conformity. Employers are obliged to train their workers on the use and maintenance of PPE. A good example is the 2010 Lombardy Region protocol which establishes a Regional Integrated Prevention Scheme, to ensure both an exhaustive training of general practitioners (often the first real interface with farmers) and the implementation of a medical check-up program targeted to the farmers themselves. An all rounder preventive action, therefore, to reduce the proportion of these diseases and improve the therapeutic possibilities should these arise.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •