Document Detail


Evaluation of a four year intervention to reduce musculoskeletal hazards among berry growers.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18454973     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PROBLEM: Fresh market berry production workers are exposed to physical risk factors for musculoskeletal injury. METHOD: We disseminated information through trade publications and other sources to berry managers in seven U.S. states about five prevention through design practices that were both safer and more profitable than traditional methods. We administered mail evaluation questionnaires prior to the intervention and after each of four intervention years to rolling, independent U.S. samples and to comparison New Zealand berry farm manager samples after years one through three. RESULTS: U.S. manager self-reports of reading trade publication information increased compared to baseline values for two of five practices and self-reported awareness increased for four of five practices. There were no increases in adoption. More U.S. than New Zealand managers reported getting information about two practices from trade publications and about four practices from public events. No U.S. versus New Zealand differences were observed in reported awareness or adoption for any practice. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This study showed that even a modest campaign can build awareness of safer practices fairly quickly in three to four years among small agricultural firms but that increasing adoption apparently requires more time. Widespread adoption of safer practices could help keep operators in business longer as they age by reducing the workload and musculoskeletal strain associated with labor intensive crop production for them and their workforce. Adoption of practices that also improve profits, like the five practices featured in this study, could also help managers stay in business.
Authors:
Larry J Chapman; Astrid C Newenhouse; Kathryn M Pereira; Ben-Tzion Karsh; Robert M Meyer; Christopher M Brunette; Janet J Ehlers
Related Documents :
15653503 - Global circumnavigations: tracking year-round ranges of nonbreeding albatrosses.
267453 - Oesophageal atresia: triumph and tragedy.
7230223 - Second ear stapedectomy.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.     Date:  2008-03-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of safety research     Volume:  39     ISSN:  0022-4375     ISO Abbreviation:  J Safety Res     Publication Date:  2008  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-05     Completed Date:  2008-08-15     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  1264241     Medline TA:  J Safety Res     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  215-24     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA. ljchapma@wisc.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Agriculture*
Data Collection
Female
Fruit*
Human Engineering*
Humans
Intervention Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Diseases / prevention & control*
New Zealand
Occupational Health*
Program Development
Program Evaluation*
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Time Factors
United States
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
U01/OH008100/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS; U06/CCU517553//PHS HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The role of design issues in work-related fatal injury in Australia.
Next Document:  The trajectories of Prevention through Design in construction.