TY - JOUR
T1 - Work exposures and mental and musculoskeletal symptoms in organic farming
AU - Mattila, Tiina E.A.
AU - Perkiö-Mäkelä, Merja
AU - Hirvonen, Maria
AU - Kinnunen, Birgitta
AU - Väre, Minna
AU - Rautiainen, Risto H.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Luonnonmukaisen tuotannon edistämissäätiö (Finnish Foundation for Promoting Organic Production) and Maatalouskoneiden tutkimussäätiö (Research Foundation of Agricultural Machinery). The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health provided the data for the study. The work effort of Risto Rautiainen was partially supported by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center (CDC/NIOSH Award U54 OH010162).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - This study focussed on harmful exposures and mental and musculoskeletal symptoms in organic and conventional farming using interview data of Finnish farmers over the winter of 2014–2015. The data consisted of 2,169 full-time farmers, out of whom 231 (11%) practiced organic farming and 1,938 (89%) conventional farming. Exposure to poisonous and irritating substances was less frequent while exposures to vibration and mould (‘smell of root cellar’) were more frequent on organic farms. Mental and musculoskeletal symptoms were slightly more common among organic farmers, but the associations were not statistically significant in regression modelling. Risk factors for mental symptoms included animal production, hired labour, female gender, constant hurry, working alone, economic uncertainty, and inadequate recovery from workdays. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms included older age, female gender, constant hurry, economic uncertainty, difficult working postures, heavy lifting and carrying, and inadequate recovery. Workload and recovery, managing the transition period and better follow-up of the occupational well-being were identified as concerns among organic farmers. Practitioner summary: Converting from conventional to organic farming has become increasingly common. Farmer interviews indicated that exposure to poisonous and irritating substances was less frequent while exposures to vibration and mould were more frequent on organic farms. Mental and musculoskeletal symptoms and risk factors were similar in both types of farming.
AB - This study focussed on harmful exposures and mental and musculoskeletal symptoms in organic and conventional farming using interview data of Finnish farmers over the winter of 2014–2015. The data consisted of 2,169 full-time farmers, out of whom 231 (11%) practiced organic farming and 1,938 (89%) conventional farming. Exposure to poisonous and irritating substances was less frequent while exposures to vibration and mould (‘smell of root cellar’) were more frequent on organic farms. Mental and musculoskeletal symptoms were slightly more common among organic farmers, but the associations were not statistically significant in regression modelling. Risk factors for mental symptoms included animal production, hired labour, female gender, constant hurry, working alone, economic uncertainty, and inadequate recovery from workdays. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms included older age, female gender, constant hurry, economic uncertainty, difficult working postures, heavy lifting and carrying, and inadequate recovery. Workload and recovery, managing the transition period and better follow-up of the occupational well-being were identified as concerns among organic farmers. Practitioner summary: Converting from conventional to organic farming has become increasingly common. Farmer interviews indicated that exposure to poisonous and irritating substances was less frequent while exposures to vibration and mould were more frequent on organic farms. Mental and musculoskeletal symptoms and risk factors were similar in both types of farming.
KW - Occupational exposures
KW - mental symptoms
KW - musculoskeletal symptoms
KW - organic agriculture
KW - social sustainability
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U2 - 10.1080/00140139.2021.1974102
DO - 10.1080/00140139.2021.1974102
M3 - Article
C2 - 34554049
AN - SCOPUS:85115640482
SN - 0014-0139
VL - 65
SP - 242
EP - 252
JO - Ergonomics
JF - Ergonomics
IS - 2
ER -