Farm workers Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury

What’s ‘discomfort, pain and injury’?

‘Discomfort, pain and injury’ is a term that’s used to describe a broad range of conditions that can affect muscles and joints. Most of these conditions begin with discomfort, many can become painful, and some may progress to injury. Sometimes discomfort and/or pain are what you’re left with once injury has healed. In general, discomfort, pain and injury conditions build up over years of work so often there’s no immediately obvious cause. That’s also because discomfort, pain and injury conditions are rarely caused by just one thing. Usually there’s a combination of a few different factors, such as fencing for hours with few breaks in cold or hot weather. Sometimes acute pain might show up after one event, such as bending to pick up a fence post or animal. But it’s more likely the pain was caused by picking up thousands of fence posts or animals over the years without adequate breaks and with poor fitness, rather than that single time. That last sheep was just ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’. Farming is hard work and it’s not unusual to feel aches and pains at the end of the day. But ordinary aches and pains usually disappear after a good night’s rest, while ongoing discomfort and pain can develop into an injury, and that can become a serious long-term problem.

Discomfort, pain and injury can occur in the body’s muscle and joint systems either gradually or suddenly, or after either strenuous or trivial activity. Although there is often no one thing to blame for triggering it, there are usually warning signs.

1

Common contributory factors in farming

Discomfort, pain and injury can be caused by a number of factors common in farming. The key to prevention is to deal with as many of these contributory factors as you can. A few examples of contributory factors in farming work are:

2

•

Whole body vibration from quads and tractors

•

Gripping hand tools such as pruning shears or drenching guns

•

Awkward access to plant or machinery for maintenance

•

Standing in one fixed position while using or repairing a piece of machinery

•

Stooping to pick things up off the ground

•

Reaching around to drench animals

•

Poor work organisation so jobs aren’t varied and there aren’t enough rest breaks

•

High pressure from seasonal deadlines

•

Working a long day with few rest breaks

•

Financial concerns regarding the running of the farm and the price of stock/ equipment/resources

•

Working in an open environment with exposure to cold, wind, rain, etc

•

Overall lifestyle, such as fitness and using alcohol and/or recreational drugs.

Discomfort, pain and injury are usually the result of a combination of several groups of factors, rather than just one or two.

For simplicity, we have sorted the different factors that contribute to discomfort, pain and injury into seven groups.

•

Load/Forceful movements – what’s being handled and how much force needs to be used to do a job, such as handling materials and animals, loading or unloading trucks by hand.

•

Task invariability – when a job or a movement is done over and over again, such as drenching sheep; and/or when the job itself is mentally exhausting or boring; or is one where static or awkward positions must be held for a long time, such as twisting around to look behind the tractor.

•

Work organisation – how workers are trained and how the work is arranged and carried out, including factors such as hours of work, when breaks are taken, workload and changes in work tasks, etc.

•

Work layout/Awkward posture – the way the workplace is set up and the positions workers have to be in to do the job. Ideally no one should have to get into awkward positions, such as having to reach too far over pen walls.

•

Environmental issues – the state of the buildings the farm work is done in and workplace conditions, whether it’s cold or hot, too noisy, too dark or equipment is poorly maintained.

•

Individual factors – these are about the individual farm worker and include some things they can change, such as diet, fitness, skill level and the amount of sleep they get. There are also things they can’t change, such as age, height and gender.

•

Psychosocial factors – things that a person thinks (or ‘stresses’) about at home or at work. These could be money worries, relationship issues, health issues or how they are coping with pain.

3

Usually it’s a combination of these factors that cause discomfort, pain and injury, rather than just one or two. And remember, even fit and strong people can get discomfort, pain and injury if they’re exposed to the right combination of factors. The good news is that discomfort, pain and injury can almost always be prevented or managed if the pain and its contributory factors are addressed early on. Workers should almost always be able to stay at work – providing steps are taken to address what’s contributing to the condition.

4

Reducing the combined effect

The seven groups of factors that can lead to discomfort, pain and injury should be considered individually and in combination. Make sure every farm worker understands what the contributory factors are and how they can be addressed. Accommodate people with discomfort, pain and injury in the workplace. Workplace accommodations provide a person with the opportunity to maintain, or regain, their regular work habits and relationships with supervisors and co-workers. These accommodations are usually temporary. Contributory factor group

What can you do

Load/Forceful movements

Pay special attention to tools and equipment. Make sure you choose the best design of tool for the job, which will also help keep farm workers safe. Make sure that all grips, casings and guards on machines and tools have smooth edges. Make sure that all blades and cutting edges are honed and sharp. Choose wide grips or triggers so the force is distributed over as large an area as possible. Buy equipment that suits all users. Avoid excessive shaping on handgrips, such as handles that have separate grooves for fingers. Make left- and right-hand versions of tools available where possible. Make sure tools such as secateurs, wire cutters, pliers, etc. have spring returns. Choose lightweight tools where possible. Reduce vibration by maintaining tools to manufacturers’ specifications, replacing vibration mounts before/as soon as they are worn out, ensuring that rotating parts are checked for balance and replaced if necessary. Make objects being handled easier to grip, for example by attaching handles or using gloves. Handle animals and other objects up close without overreaching or twisting. You may need to make alterations such as installing appropriate kick rails so employees can get close to milking cups.

Continued … 5

Contributory factor group

What can you do

Task invariability

Vary the workload and rotate tasks, particularly for jobs that require awkward positions. Encourage farm workers to help each other by agreeing to swap around. Let workers take frequent short breaks and encourage short pauses as they work. Encourage employees to change their position regularly and to move and stretch often, especially if they are doing jobs that put them in an awkward posture or one position for a long time.

Work organisation

Offer regular hours as far as possible and if you are an employee don’t be tempted to work a lot of overtime. That means planning ahead for busy times and making sure you have enough skilled employees to do the work. Gear any rewards or incentive schemes towards safe working practices and efficiency, rather than speed or throughput. New employees or farm workers just back from holidays or a period off work need time to regain their fitness and get back up to speed, so plan for an easier start. Make sure regular breaks are taken throughout the day – don’t allow workers to work through smoko and then finish early. Agree on achievable throughput goals for your farm workers. Train employees about discomfort, pain and injury – make sure everyone knows what the contributory factors are and how to stay healthy.

Workplace layout/ Awkward posture

Where possible, redesign the layout of work areas so farm workers don’t have to get in awkward postures. That means there should be little need to twist the spine, work above shoulder height, or below knee height. Use tools and equipment to make working easier and awkward postures less necessary. If bags and boxes are handled frequently, provide roller conveyors, utility carts or trolleys to reduce handling. Use stands or shelves to bring work up to a comfortable height. Good housekeeping in implement and wool sheds can improve workplace layout, so keep these areas tidy to reduce slips, trips and falls. Store materials away soon after they’re delivered.

Environmental issues

Farm work is usually outside so make sure farm workers have somewhere warm and sheltered (or shaded) to take breaks or escape from bad or hot weather. In cold weather, provide gloves and make sure employees wear warm clothing, especially at break times. Ensure there is good lighting in all work areas, especially in sheds that tend to be dimly lit.

6

Ensure regular breaks are taken when using vibrating equipment, either whole body (such as using quad bikes or tractors) or upper limb (such as using chainsaws).

Contributory factor group

What can you do

Individual factors

Reporting and managing discomfort, pain and injury is a worker’s personal responsibility, so help your farm workers identify it and encourage them report it early. Encourage them to keep fit, eat healthy food, get plenty of sleep and to drink enough water – water keeps us hydrated and helps avoid fatigue. If you are organising a staff function develop health and safety policies and practices that encourage responsible alcohol consumption. Always provide food, non alcoholic options and monitor alcohol consumption.

Psychosocial factors

Encourage teamwork and open communication among your farm workers, and give recognition to individuals when it’s deserved. Be aware of, and deal with, any issues among your workers that might adversely affect them, such as disputes, bullying, etc. Working away from family and friends can be hard for workers or their families. Encourage your workers to talk about any difficulties they might be having and help them where you can.

It’s likely there will be some contributory factors beyond your control so concentrate on making improvements where you can, such as ensuring that: •

Your workers take short breaks in between jobs, especially physically or mentally exhausting jobs

•

Workers stretch during these breaks

•

There is plenty of water available and workers have access to healthy food

•

Workers are prepared for work: they are rested and warmed up, equipment is well maintained, work areas are clutter-free and organised

•

There are enough workers available to do the work and rotate tasks.

Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility, to be shared by the farm owner, the farm manager, contractors and the farm workers alike. After all, it’s in everyone’s best interests to keep experienced workers on the job.

Encourage your farm workers to keep fit, healthy and well rested. Also, encourage them to report any discomfort or pain early – the earlier these problems are addressed, the better it is for everyone.

7

More information

For further information about avoiding discomfort, pain and injury conditions go to: •

www.habitatwork.co.nz

•

www.acc.co.nz/dpi for tools and resources on preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury, including: – WorkSmart tips for farm workers – HabitAtWork posters and workbooks – Injury Cost Calculator – Manual Handling Risk Reckoner – Early reporting form for employers and employees

•

www.acc.co.nz/rural

•

www.dol.govt.nz (Department of Labour)

You can also visit your nearest ACC branch or call us on 0800 844 657. By keeping everyone informed and addressing the various contributory factors, you should avoid most discomfort, pain and injury conditions. However, if any of your farm workers are experiencing aches and pains that won’t go away, please advise them to consult a health provider. Give the health provider information about the workplace and tasks your worker can do to encourage a stay at work approach.

8

ACC5846  Printed May 2011  ISBN:978–0–478–36234–3  Electronic ISBN:978–0–478–36243–5

Printed in New Zealand on paper sourced from well-managed sustainable forests using oil free, soy-based vegetable inks

www.acc.co.nz 0800 844 657