Evaluation of a Community-Based Effort to Reduce Blueberry Harvesting Injury

Details

• Personal Author:
  Burdick P ; Ginley B ; Hawkes L ; Jones A ; May J ; Rowland M ; Santiago B
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Harvesting of blueberries is associated with musculoskeletal injury. This study assessed the effects of several alternative designs of the harvesting rake. METHODS: A community-based work team selected rake design for intervention and pilot tested potential design modifications to the blueberry harvesting rake. An "extended" handle design was selected for comparison with the traditional short-handle rake. Tested rakes were of two widths (70 and 80 tines) and four handle lengths (short handle; extended: 10, 14, or 16 in.). Workers rated each of five configurations after 4 hr of use. Evaluators tracked qualitative and quantitative indicators of the community-based approach throughout. RESULTS: Data from 29 subjects were analyzed using two-factor analysis of variance. There was increased productivity (P = 0.041); greater acceptability (P < 0.0001); less force (P < 0.001); and less pain (P < 0.0001) with the extended handle designs. The 80 tine width was favored over the 70. Process evaluation identified problems that generally could be addressed. Outcome evaluation indicated successful achievement of all stated goals. CONCLUSIONS: The "extended" handle rake may prove effective in reducing musculoskeletal injury associated with blueberry harvesting. A community-based approach to migrant farmworker injuries can be effective, particularly if employers participate. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural-industry Agricultural-workers Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Qualitative-analysis Quantitative-analysis Risk-analysis Statistical-analysis Statistical-quality-control Work-analysis Work-performance Work-practices

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  307-315
• Volume:
  51
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034058
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2008 Apr; 51(4):307-315
• Contact Point Address:
  Lynae Hawkes, The Northeast Center for Agricultural Health, Bassett Healthcare, Atwell Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326
• Email:
  lhawkes@nycamh.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital - New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030901
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20080831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7a12515a8ef3c647936f3350d0cf75db123e988af74424e0c2adeed1944ab5f3486f1a254193a53ec5d9357f271ce7a80ba911bbc1643d0f762eda0269309d2e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/189435/cdc_189435_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 183.02 KB ]