Changes in Musculoskeletal Disorders among Swedish Dairy Farmers
The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence and changes in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and factors in the work environment among dairy farmers in the municipality Sk?ne, south of Sweden, between 1988 and 2002. Additional aims were to describe and suggest actions farmers can be taken to avoid disorders. The data collection occurred in 1988 and 2002 using independent samples of dairy farmers. Both samples collected data using the standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaires on perceived musculoskeletal symptoms and a set of additional questions regarding individual and work conditions. Musculoskeletal symptoms were reported more often in 2002 (85％) than 1988 (82％) in both genders. The greatest significant changes (p=0.000) were an increase in reported symptoms in the shoulder, neck and in the wrists/hands. In 2002, female farmers reported symptoms more often than males (89.7％, 83.4％; p=0.04). Female farmers also show the highest increase of symptoms from 1988 to 2002 compared to males. Compared with results in 1988 (n=1465), farmers in 2002 (n=686) worked more hours per week ((-x)=39, 34; p=0.000), milked more cows ( (-x)=57, 30; p=0.000), and used more milking units ( (-x)=7, 4; p=0.000). In 1988, almost all the farmers used tethering systems while in 2002 about 27％ worked in loose-housing systems. In 2002, almost half of the farmers worked on newly built farms or extensively renovated buildings in 1990 or later. The high prevalence and the increase of reported symptoms might be explained by the increase of exposure to the risk factors described above and by the degree of the transition from working in tethering milking systems to loose-housing systems. There are several measures that the dairy farmers can be taken to reduce their work load. In the tethering system, installation of a milking rail is an aid for transport of milking equipment. Automatic cluster removers reduce the load on the back and knees. In the loose-housing system an adjustable floor height is recommended. Installing a support arm on which the milking unit is attached to reduce the load on the hands and wrists. Apart from the need of developing technical devices, further research is needed concerning the dairy farmers well-being and quality of life, perceived stress and leisure time activities and how these and similar factors influence the prevalence of MSDs. Strategies for preventive and intervention measures must consider physical workplace factors as well as personal and lifestyle characteristics.
Associate Professor Stefan Pinzke
Department of Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 88, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-7
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）