Full shift arm inclinometry among dairy parlor workers: a feasibility study in a challenging work environment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Douphrate DI ; Fethke NB ; Nonnenmann MW ; Reynolds SJ ; Rosecrance JC
• Description:
  Over the last 20 years, the US dairy industry has experienced a significant transformation from small farm operations to an industrialization of the milking process. This transformation has resulted in improvements in process efficiency and product quality. Milking tasks in large-herd parlors are highly-repetitive involving awkward postures and high muscle loads of the upper extremity. Field-based direct measures of physical exposures have been limited in challenging work settings such as dairies. This study evaluated full-shift exposures of posture and motion of the upper extremity among large-herd parlor milkers using wireless inclinometry. Results suggest large-herd parlor workers may be exposed to high exposure levels (posture, movement velocity, repetition, and inadequate rest) associated with the development of shoulder pathology. Compared to other high-risk occupations involving shoulder-intensive work, parlor workers may have higher exposure levels. These findings warrant the need for continued field-based research with larger sample sizes to facilitate the development of cost-effective intervention strategies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Dairy Products Farmers Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Workers Animal Husbandry Workers Arm Injuries Author Keywords: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Dairy Products Exposure Assessment Farm Workers Muscle Physiology Musculoskeletal Disorders Posture Repetitive Work

  More +
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement ; Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Iowa ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 7 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  43
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040370
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2012 May; 43(3):604-613
• Contact Point Address:
  David I. Douphrate, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus, 7411 John Smith Drive, Suite 1100, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
• Email:
  david.i.douphrate@uth.tmc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Colorado State University - Ft. Collins
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030915
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20270914
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0c8fb931a5f56fadc14d433a0d14c85e30a9ea76f616f475bf2ce98e25bd16a5e2bf46d4c12601064091569ce3779543d1b6a785f65a5c1c907ebd23ff831ee0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193273/cdc_193273_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 778.81 KB ]