Hazards for Farmer - Term Paper Example

Chemical and Technology Hazards that Affect Farmer University’s Name: Submitted by Name: Tutor: Date: Abstract The report focused on the chemical and technological hazards that affect farmers or farm workers. It narrows on the respiratory infections that relates to chemical hazards and physical injuries that are associated with technological hazards. To extensive cover the primary objective of the report, it carries out a comprehensive literature review from secondary sources and a survey to get primary data and information from farmers and agricultural safety experts. The report specifically covers the two hazards, their control measures, possible legislation to control the hazards, and safety measures that farmers can take to reduce the effects of the hazards. The report ends by recommending that government should come up with effective safety regulations and that more extension officers should be employed in farming communities to enhance safety awareness among farmers. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Literature Review 5 Chemical Hazards 5 Technological Hazards 7 Methodology 8 Research Approach 8 Sampling and Sample Size 8 Research Instruments 8 Statistical Analysis 9 Findings 9 Section 1 9 Section 2 11 Section 3 13 Conclusion 14 Recommendations 14 Introduction Agriculture forms the backbone of many economies, especially in the developing countries across the world. Production in the agricultural sector has improved due to the development in various farming materials and inputs (Ibrahim, 1999). Therefore, there has been increased emphasis on agricultural productivity, as farmers and farm workers can now access modern farming tools and chemical that enhances productivity. However, the competition in the agricultural sector has led to hazardous working environment for farmers and their employees and the most affected people are small-scale farmers. The technicality of the modern farming machines and inputs like chemicals that are used need special information and training to reduce the risk that farmers face (Ibrahim, 1999). In addition, there is the need for the dissemination of health and safety information to create awareness among farmers and their employees. Extension officers should play an active role to train farmers about the risk management skills. A significant percentage of the hazards that farmers face are related to the chemicals and technological inputs that dominate the modern agricultural practices (Kahan, 2013). Respiratory infection is one of the hazards related to the use of chemicals used by farmers. The hazard does not affect farmers, but also farm workers and their families, abattoir workers, and the surrounding communities where farming chemicals are used. Technological hazards, on the other hand, relates to the modern machines that that are used in farming, as they are prone to breakdown and can cause accidents. The main objective of the report, therefore, is to determine the chemical and technological related hazards that affect farmers or farm workers. The specific hazards that are covered in the report include respiratory infections that relates to chemicals and physical injury hazards that relates to technology used in farming. Literature Review Chemical Hazards According to Coggins et al. (2007), he increased use of chemicals in the modern farming practices has enhanced productivity and at the same time it has led to increased number of chemical risks that negatively affects the life of farmers and farm workers. A number of studies shows that a significant number of farmers and farm workers die out of chemical poisonings (Rao, Davis and Justice, 2010). Chemicals used in farming like pesticides cause a number of diseases like cancer, respiratory infections, and genetic disorders that cause the death of many people working in farms. Various studies that were done on the effects of chemicals on farmers and farm worked found that exposure to chemicals like pesticides cause respiratory diseases like rhinitis, asthma, and bronchitis (Rao, Davis and Justice, 2010). A study that was carried out in the state of California found that 23.7% of the farmers who participated in the study had pesticides-related diseases. Early childhood exposure to farm chemicals is believed to be one of the contributing factors in the increasing number of children affected by asthma worldwide. Studies have also shown that can be prenatally exposed to pesticides when pregnant women working in farms are exposed to such chemicals, which can cause various negative health effects on children (Coggins et al., 2007). Prenatal exposure to chemical like organochlorine pesticides is liked to increased asthma among young children in the farming families. Further, high intensive exposure to chemical has been linked to increased depression among people applying pesticides because it affects neurological functions. However, a study by Fienten (2009) found out that it is difficult to find the causal relationship between farm chemicals and other diseases like respiratory infections and cancers as previous studies had indicated. A study carried out on pesticide exposure among farmers and farm workers found that safety behaviors is the best way preventing chemical-related hazards among farmers and their workers (Kirkhorn, 2002). The useful safety behaviors like using protective equipment, bathing after using chemicals, changing clothes after farming, and maintaining general hygiene like washing hands are important in preventing negative effects of chemicals and farmers. A study in Cambodia found that the hazards of pesticide poisoning reduced by about 55% among literate farmers who effectively adopted safety behaviors (Kirkhorn, 2002). A study carried out in Ghana also found illiterate farmers are highly affected by pesticides that literate farmers who always use protective equipments and are sensitive to safety behaviors. However, a study carried out among tobacco farmers in Greece found that awareness and knowledge on the potential chemical risks on farmers is not a guarantee that they will observe safety measures (Kirkhorn, 2002). The same research showed that a significant number of tobacco farmers are knowledgeable of the potential risks of pesticides, but a good number of them, about 49% do not utilize protective equipments. In addition, the research indicated that young farmers are more likely to use protective equipments because they are more concerned about health problems associated with chemicals. Technological Hazards There is increased farming mortality and morbidity that come as a result of injuries among farmers and their workers. According to Narasimhan (2009), the increased number of injuries in farming is associates with the mechanization of the farming practices, as various reports that more than half of farm injuries due to the use of modern machines by farmers. Therefore, farmers and farm workers are highly exposed to physical injuries that come from machines. In Canada, about 177 out of 100,000 persons are hospitalized every year due to machine-related injuries (Narasimhan, 2009). A large number of physical injuries among farmers come from tractors and augers, which is distributed equally across ages. Narasimhan (2009) also found that there is little literature that talks about the effective ways of preventing machine related injuries despite the fact that they cause significant health burden among farmers and farm workers. It is difficult to determine the exact cause of the machine injuries because they are multi-factorial in nature and some cannot be easily recognized. Reducing machine-related injuries depend on the training and education level of farmers, designing of farming machines, and coming up with effective regulations that ensure that farmers and engineers adhere to the safety rules (Narasimhan, 2009). However, research has shown that farmers and extension officers rely only on the education and training of farmers to reduce physical injury hazards among farmers and farm workers. Narasimhan further stated that machine maintenance and safety guidance is more effective in preventing physical injuries that are related to the farm machines. Therefore, preventing physical hazards among farmers and farmer workers can best be prevented by coming up with proper designing of machines and training farmers on the best ways to use them to reduce injuries. Methodology Research Approach First, the research relied on secondary data and information to determine the hazards that relates and chemicals and technologies that affects farmers. The researcher relied on reliable literatures written by respected scholars to determine the hazards. The secondary samples that were used were group into two categories. The first category of literatures was based on the chemical hazards, especially those discussion respiratory infection hazards caused by pesticides used by farmers. The second category was the literature on physical injury hazards caused by machines, which are some of the technologies used by farmers. The second approach was the use of survey to get the primary information and data from farmers, farm workers, and some of the experts. Sampling and Sample Size The study involved farmers and farm workers working in both open and closed field. The sample also included some of the safety experts who were interviewed to give in depth information on the hazards and their prevention. Random sampling technique was used to select 20 participants who came from one farming community in the UK. The sample also included two safety experts who are well conversant with the hazards and safety of farmers. Research Instruments The researcher used both interview and questionnaires as research tools. The participants were required to fill questionnaires. In addition, the selected two experts were separately interviewed to give more information on the chemical and technological hazards affecting farmers and farm workers, control measures, and steps that farmers and farm workers can take to ensure their safety. Statistical Analysis All the data that were collected from the questionnaires and interviews were coded and entered before being analyzed through the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings Section 1 Respiratory infections are one on the main hazards that are caused by chemicals like pesticides that are used by farmers or farm workers in the agricultural sector. Exposure to various farming chemicals like pesticides leads to hazardous working environment to farmers, farm workers, and the surrounding community (Sanbornn et al., 2004). Despite the fact that the exposure to chemicals have reduced due to increased awareness among farmers on the safety measure, the number of farmers who suffer from respiratory diseases is still high due to indoor air exposure, especially those working in greenhouses (Sanbornn et al., 2004). Some of the common chemicals that lead to respiratory infections among farmers and their workers include inorganic dust and pesticides that are common in the current agricultural practices. Farmers introduce hazardous chemicals into their bloodstream through inhalation, which ends up affecting their respiratory systems. The chemicals used by farmers lead to respiratory irritations, which can lead to various respiratory diseases like asthma once the systems has become sensitive to the poisonous chemicals (Sanbornn et al., 2004). Many chemicals that are used by farmers can easily cause respiratory diseases due to their mechanism actions. For instance, chloropicrin that is used in treating tomatoes can lead to respiratory infection because it has a very strong odor. It is also one of the chemicals that are used to make tear gas, which means that it is toxic and can cause irritation in the respiratory system leading to respiratory diseases like lung cancer and asthma. The most important way of controlling respiratory infections caused by chemicals used by farmers is to come up effective way of executing personal respiratory protection (Kirkhorn, 2002). It is important to engineer the control to ensure long-term and sustainable ways of controlling respiratory infections. Companies manufacturing farm chemicals should mix it with vegetable oils like canola oils, which are important in reducing adverse respiratory effects on farmers and farm workers (Ibrahim, 1999). Farmers and farm technicians should also ensure that there are enough mechanical ventilation in greenhouses and other enclosed farming areas to ensure the circulation of fresh air. In addition, the best ways of reducing the toxic level of poisonous gases like ammonia is to leak-proof structures, which should be accompanied regular supervision. It is, therefore, the responsibility of farmers, technical experts, and extension officers to ensure that the use of chemicals by farmers is controlled to reduce respiratory infections. Coming up with the effective legislation in reducing the effect of chemicals on farmers and this should apply to manufacturers, technical experts and farmers. It is important to come up with a law that requires all the manufacturers and suppliers of farm chemicals to be registered because it will help the concerned authorities to determine the suitability and the safety of the chemicals before they use farmers (Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011). Registration will also ensure that manufactures and suppliers adhere to the set standards. The law should also ensure that famers only use chemicals from certified and registered manufacturers and suppliers. The legislation should also ensure that farmers comply with safety requirements when using chemicals like the use of safety equipments and store the chemicals in a safe environment (Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011). Farmers or farm workers should take personal responsibility by ensuring that they take precautions when they are using chemicals to reduce their negative effects like respiratory infections. First, farmers should ensure that the person apply chemicals are well trained to use chemical and application equipments to avoid unnecessary risks (Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011). It is also important for farmers or their workers to use decanting kits to minimize risks of spills or splashes when they are mixing pesticides. They should also ensure that the areas they are using to mix chemicals are well ventilated to allow free circulation of air. Farmers or farm workers should make sure that they utilize personal protective equipments when mixing or spraying chemicals. Most importantly, farmers or farm workers should ensure that they follow instructions on how to use chemicals that are always written on the labels to avoid dangerous reactions or chemicals or explosions. It is therefore the responsibility of farmers or farm workers to take necessary precautions when they are using chemicals to reduce their adverse effects like respiratory infections that can affect their health and general productivity. Section 2 The main hazard that is caused technology that is likely to affect the lives of farmers or farm workers is the physical injuries that are caused by farm machines like tractors. Increased mechanization of farming practices due to emerging farm technology has enhanced the rate of physical injury hazards that has led to increased hospitalization cost and reduced productivity as farmers spend a significant amount of time nursing injuries (Narasimhan, 2009). Machines-related injuries have been the primary source of non-fatal and increased disability among farmers or farm workers. Most of the non-fatal physical injuries caused by machines are always severe an a farmer or farm worker spend a lot of time before getting healed, which ends up affecting their daily lives as they have no time carry out farming activities. It is estimated that the percentage of farmers who suffer from machine-related injuries are between 33% and 43%, which is a significant number that can affect farm productivity (Narasimhan, 2009). There are a number of physical injuries hazards that are related to the technology that farmers use. Some of the injuries include pinch point that is associated with machines like belts and gears; wrap point injuries that are caused by rotating devices; cutting injuries that come from sharp objects; and freewheeling injuries that occur when a machine takes time to stop after it has been switched off (Narasimhan, 2009). Therefore, despite the numerous advantages of the farm technologies, they are also hazardous because they lead to physical injury hazards that affect farmers. There are a number of control measures that can be taken to minimize physical injury hazards that are prone in the farming sector. First, the concerned agricultural authorities should ensure that the designing and manufacturing of machine are done according to the set standards to reduce their breakdown (Kumar, Varghese and Mohan, 2000). Secondly, it is important to train farm operators on how to effectively use the machines to avoid unnecessary physical injuries by ensuring that they abide by the safety measures that are put in place. Machine manufacturers and farmers should also ensure that the moving parts of machines are guarded through the use of shields or interlocks (Suutarinen, 2004). It is the responsibility of manufacturers, farmers, and the concerned agricultural authorities to ensure that safety measures are put in place to minimize physical injuries. Therefore, it is important to come up with safety regulations that related to designing, manufacturing and use of farm machines that are likely to cause physical injuries. The best step that farmers can take to reduce the risk of physical injuries is to comply with the guarding standards and maintenance scopes of the machines that they are using in their farms. Farmers or farm workers must ensure that they strictly follow the instruction on how to use the machines and they carry out regular maintenance (Day and McGrath, 1999). They should also ensure that they take necessary safety measures safety measures to avoid petty injuries. Section 3 The respiratory infections and physical injuries are more common because of the use of chemical and technologies like machines that are inevitable in modern farming practices. There is increased need for higher yields to match increased demand for the growing population. Therefore, farmers are more likely to face the hazards because they are forced by the changing circumstance to use them. The risks are also likely to be higher because research from tobacco farmers in Greece indicated that farmers are less likely to take safety measures even if they are knowledgeable and are aware of the potential risks caused by the use of chemicals and technologies. In addition, the risk is more among small-scale farmers who may be illiterate and have to safety equipments to protect them from the hazards. Therefore, the physical injuries and respiratory infections are likely to be more among famers or farm workers. Conclusion There are a number of chemical and technology hazards that affect farmers or farm workers that endanger their lives. Respiratory infections and physical injuries are some of the main hazards that are caused by chemicals and technology respectively. Despite the fact that the hazards are claiming the lives of many farmers and farm workers, little is being done to control them. Farmers are also reluctant to take personal safety measures that can protect them from the hazards. Therefore, the hazards are likely to continue affecting farmers despite increased awareness. Recommendations Government should enact effectively safety regulations that must also be properly implemented to curb increased hazards that continue to affect farmers More extension officers should be employed in the rural areas to educate farmers on the safety measures and the need to follow them when they are using chemicals or technologies. Reference List Coggins, M., Mc Donnell, P., Fleming, G. and Hogan, V., 2007. Exposure assessment to airborne contaminants in the indoor environment of Swine Farms. Damalas, C.A. and Eleftherohorinos, I.G., 2011. Pesticide exposure, safety issues, and risk assessment indicators. International journal of environmental research and public health, 8(5), pp.1402-1419. Day, L.M. and McGrath, A., 1999. Unintentional machinery injury on farms in Victoria. Monash University Accident Research Centre. Ibrahim, M.J., 1999. Farm safety and health needs among limited resource farmers in selected counties of North Carolina. Kahan, D., 2013. MANAGING RISK in farming. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Kirkhorn, S.R. and Garry, V.F., 2000. Agricultural lung diseases. Environmental health perspectives, 108(Suppl 4), p.705. Kirkhorn, S.R., 2002. AGRICULTURAL RESPIRATORY HAZARDS AND DISEASE. Available at Partners in Agricultural Health. http://www. worh. org/pdf_etc/fhpdf/envi. pdfAccessed on March, 10. Kumar, A., Varghese, M. and Mohan, D., 2000. Equipment-related injuries in agriculture: An international perspective. Injury control and safety promotion, 7(3), pp.175-186. Narasimhan, G., 2009. Machinery-related operational factors as determinants of injury on Canadian prairie farms. Rao, P., Davis, S. and Justice, F., 2010. Topics in Respiratory Health of Farm workers. Sanbornn, M., Colee, D., Kerrr, K., Vakill, C., Saninn, L.H. and Bassill, K., 2004. Pesticides literature review. Toronto (CAN): The Ontario College of Family Physicians. Suutarinen, J., 2004. Management as a risk factor for farm injuries. Journal of agricultural safety and health, 10(1), pp.39-50. Read More

Technological Hazards There is increased farming mortality and morbidity that come as a result of injuries among farmers and their workers. According to Narasimhan (2009), the increased number of injuries in farming is associates with the mechanization of the farming practices, as various reports that more than half of farm injuries due to the use of modern machines by farmers. Therefore, farmers and farm workers are highly exposed to physical injuries that come from machines. In Canada, about 177 out of 100,000 persons are hospitalized every year due to machine-related injuries (Narasimhan, 2009).

A large number of physical injuries among farmers come from tractors and augers, which is distributed equally across ages. Narasimhan (2009) also found that there is little literature that talks about the effective ways of preventing machine related injuries despite the fact that they cause significant health burden among farmers and farm workers. It is difficult to determine the exact cause of the machine injuries because they are multi-factorial in nature and some cannot be easily recognized.

Reducing machine-related injuries depend on the training and education level of farmers, designing of farming machines, and coming up with effective regulations that ensure that farmers and engineers adhere to the safety rules (Narasimhan, 2009). However, research has shown that farmers and extension officers rely only on the education and training of farmers to reduce physical injury hazards among farmers and farm workers. Narasimhan further stated that machine maintenance and safety guidance is more effective in preventing physical injuries that are related to the farm machines.

Therefore, preventing physical hazards among farmers and farmer workers can best be prevented by coming up with proper designing of machines and training farmers on the best ways to use them to reduce injuries. Methodology Research Approach First, the research relied on secondary data and information to determine the hazards that relates and chemicals and technologies that affects farmers. The researcher relied on reliable literatures written by respected scholars to determine the hazards.

The secondary samples that were used were group into two categories. The first category of literatures was based on the chemical hazards, especially those discussion respiratory infection hazards caused by pesticides used by farmers. The second category was the literature on physical injury hazards caused by machines, which are some of the technologies used by farmers. The second approach was the use of survey to get the primary information and data from farmers, farm workers, and some of the experts.

Sampling and Sample Size The study involved farmers and farm workers working in both open and closed field. The sample also included some of the safety experts who were interviewed to give in depth information on the hazards and their prevention. Random sampling technique was used to select 20 participants who came from one farming community in the UK. The sample also included two safety experts who are well conversant with the hazards and safety of farmers. Research Instruments The researcher used both interview and questionnaires as research tools.

The participants were required to fill questionnaires. In addition, the selected two experts were separately interviewed to give more information on the chemical and technological hazards affecting farmers and farm workers, control measures, and steps that farmers and farm workers can take to ensure their safety. Statistical Analysis All the data that were collected from the questionnaires and interviews were coded and entered before being analyzed through the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Findings Section 1 Respiratory infections are one on the main hazards that are caused by chemicals like pesticides that are used by farmers or farm workers in the agricultural sector. Exposure to various farming chemicals like pesticides leads to hazardous working environment to farmers, farm workers, and the surrounding community (Sanbornn et al., 2004).

Read More