Loading...
A Study of the Effectiveness of Risk Assessment and Extension Supports for Irish Farmers to Improve Farm Safety and Health Management
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2014
Collections
Files
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
McNamara, John G. A Study of the Effectiveness of Risk Assessment and Extension Supports for Irish Farmers to Improve Farm Safety and Health Management. UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, 2014
Abstract
The agricultural sector workforce in Ireland and Internationally has a poor
occupational safety and health (OSH) record. Given this situation, identifying
approaches to improve OSH adoption on farms are urgently required, yet limited
research has been conducted on this topic. In Ireland, legislation introduced in 2005
permitted the development of a Code of Practice (COP) in association with a Risk
Assessment Document (RAD) for specific sectors to assist owners of small-scale
enterprises and the self-employed to manage OSH. Two state agencies, the Health
and Safety Authority and Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority,
formed an alliance to undertake a Prevention Initiative to develop the COP and RAD
for the agriculture sector and to assist farmers to use these documents to manage
farm OSH and to assess the utility of the approach adopted. The Prevention
Initiative firstly developed the RAD on a pilot basis and assessed its value in
assisting farmers with OSH management in association with provision of short halfday
training and follow-up extension. This was followed by circulation of COP
documents, including the RAD, to farmers nationally and making available half-day
training based on the RAD and associated OSH extension.
A mixed-method research approach was implemented to assess the RAD utility and
effectiveness while triangulation of data from different sources was undertaken to
maximise the knowledge gained. Questionnaires were used among farmer
participants (n=1,206) and Teagasc staff (n=54), who facilitated the training, to gain
opinions of the RAD and of the training provided. RAD’s were assembled (n=475)
and assessed for their completion levels and nature of controls specified for action by
farmers. Farm audits were undertaken (n=94) to assess implementation of farm OSH
controls in association with RAD use. A nationally representative survey of farmers
(n=891) was used to establish levels of COP and RAD usage and farm accident
levels.
Farmers reported having a positive attitude to farm OSH. They rated the RAD
developed on a pilot basis as the most helpful to them in assisting with OSH
management when compared with other legal documents developed in Ireland for
this purpose. Farmers perceptions of the causes of serious accidents were found to be
at variance with objective data and it was concluded that use of the RAD was an effective means of accurate communications. The COP and RAD documents were
used to a limited extent among the farming population and it was concluded that
greater utility of these documents requires further support through training.
Participation in training on RAD completion in the project pilot phase was motivated
by farmers’ desire to improve farm OSH and to gain assistance in completing the
legally required documents. Among training approaches used, participants rated
using accident victim testimonials and visual approaches to show OSH controls most
useful while the provision of information on farmers’ health and level of discussion
during training as least useful. Most participants were willing to engage in further
OSH farm-based extension including participation in further training and attending
farm demonstrations. Following RAD completion, most farmers (78%) planned to
make OSH changes for which farm resources were mainly available, but just over
half (55%) implemented the changes they planned and these were identified as
having a prior record of OSH adoption. Farmers identified a limited number of
controls in the RAD for action and those who attended training specified a higher
level , while controls specified were mainly physical in nature such as machinery and
farm facilities improvement.
RAD facilitators were satisfied with the content and structure of farmer RAD
training and the majority (80%) were also satisfied with the training they received to
provide RAD farmer training while those dissatisfied mainly felt that the training
provided was too short. Advisors who facilitated RAD training when compared to
those not allocated this role, subsequently reported providing higher levels of OSH
advice. Farmers’ completion of the RAD with or without training (half-day) was not
associated with reduced farm accident levels. Farm accident level was associated
with farms where the farmer and spouse had off farm work, which were
comparatively larger in scale. Being a Teagasc client or having received agricultural
education was not associated with reduced farm accident levels.
Overall the study indicates that farmers’ knowledge is not the limiting factor to OSH
implementation as use of the RAD and training did not lead to OSH change among
prior non-adopters. The study recommends further assessment of extension
approaches which can motivate OSH adoption such as use of farmer discussion
groups which have been shown to improve farm management and technology
adoption.