Assessing Self-Reported Occupational Hazards of Manure Applicators in the Upper Midwest

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander BH ; Bender JB ; Charlier D ; Cortus E ; Janni K ; Modderman C ; Peterson C ; Schossow M ; Wilson M
• Description:
  Manure management on farms presents potential risks to human health and safety, including infectious, chemical, and physical exposures that may result in injury or fatality. Toxic gases and confined spaces are among the most common hazards. These hazards are especially salient for the Upper Midwest of the United States. This study characterizes the occupational health and safety practices and experiences of manure applicators in Minnesota. This cross-sectional study surveyed 162 commercial manure applicators about their work characteristics, safety practices, and health and safety experiences. Respondents reported an average of 17 hours per day applying manure during the busy season, which typically occurs several weeks each year. One hundred and thirty-one (90%) of 145 respondents did not regularly use gas monitors during application. Thirty-three (37%) of 90 respondents reported at least one symptom of gas exposure during manure application work. Those that worked with swine manure were more likely to report symptoms of gas exposure than those who did not work with swine (OR 9.5; CI: 2.0, 89.0). Those that had entered confined spaces were more likely to report symptoms of gas exposure than those who had not entered confined spaces (OR 4.4; CI: 0.1, 1.1). Fourteen (9%) of 150 respondents reported being injured when applying manure. Manure work can be hazardous and may be associated with injury and gas exposure. These findings offer a starting point for future research and intervention to protect and improve the health and safety of applicators. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Industry Animal Agriculture Author Keywords: Manure Management Farm Workers Gases Health Hazards Manure Applicators Manure Pits Occupational Health Occupational Safety Safety Practices

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• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  230-238
• Volume:
  28
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066126
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2023 Apr; 28(2):230-238
• Contact Point Address:
  Devon Charlier, Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, University of Minnesota, Mayo 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
• Email:
  charl259@umn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20110930
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:884f7d49cc006097ab09897d23b9247ef7b73314b69b8ab87a7d65e448ff82f4f4e6cc353f62ba3b9bae88c835d08e62095ecc2e1df00f6d8f921e9b22ddea21
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212638/cdc_212638_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 832.65 KB ]