Journal of Agromedicine最新文献

Objectives: This paper describes the design and evaluation of a workshop created to develop safer disaster response strategies for fishing communities, using the 2019 Northeast Brazil Oil Spill as a starting point for community-engaged education.

Methods: The 3-day pilot workshop included presentations, structured discussions, and interactive activities with small-scale fishers (SSFs), university researchers, and representatives of local government agencies. The workshop was evaluated through a mixed-method approach that considered qualitative data from discussion groups, collectively built products, and content retention. Evaluation methods were designed to contribute to participant learning while collecting information to improve the workshop's design.

Results: The workshop succeeded in identifying harm reduction strategies for SSFs in the face of chemical spills, as well as in connecting them with government agencies that can provide support. Feedback from facilitators and participants was largely positive, emphasizing the accessibility of the event, participant enthusiasm, and the importance of the content for SSFs' safety. In evaluating content retention, nearly all content was understood and could be explained effectively by the SSF participants. Products of the workshop that the community can refer to in the future include community-produced videos about safety in encounters with petrochemicals and two flowcharts that outline disaster response strategies.

Conclusion: Community education and participatory frameworks support rich learning experiences around community health, with benefits for researchers and SSF participants. This workshop built on experiences from the 2019 oil spill to develop safer chemical spill response strategies that consider resource availability in the target community. Future events could build from this base to prepare for other kinds of disasters, like floods and storms. This event aims to reduce harm to SSFs, but government and professional first responder support remains essential to ensure safe disaster response due to a lack of safe, accessible protocols for such events.

Objective: Farming tasks often involve repetitive movements, heavy lifting, awkward postures, and prolonged periods of standing or bending, all of which can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal issues (MSDs) such as back pain, joint pain, and muscle strains. The consequences include decreased work time, disability, and increased financial costs. Various ergonomic risk evaluation techniques have been created for industrial fields, but there is a shortage of specific techniques for farming occupations. This study aims to offer an overview of the observational techniques of evaluate work-related ergonomic risk factors among farmers.

Methods: Articles published beetween Mar 2010 to Nov 2023 were searched in scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Iranian databases. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) was used to evaluate the quality of the articles. We removed unrelated articles using PRISMA statement guidelines and finally examined articles completely related to the study. Additionally, the GraySource and BASE databases were consulted to identify gray sources.

Results: Following three review stages 31 articles were ultimately included in the final analysis. Based on the assessment of article quality using the CASP checklist, the scores of 31 articles ranged from 6 to 10. The REBA stands out as the most commonly used technique. Additionally, sepecific techniques, like AULA, AWBA and ALLA, have been specifically designed to evaluate the ergonomic risk faced by farmers. Most of these techniques are limited to evaluating occupational factors and individual, environmental and psychosocial factors have not been investigated.

Conclusions: Considering the growth of agricultural jobs, it is essential to create new techniques and enhance the current ones. Additionally, given the complex nature of musculoskeletal disorders, it is crucial to take into account multiple factors (individual, occupational, environmental, and psychosocial) when developing risk assessment techniques.

Objective: The fisheries sector is essential to the economies of developing countries, but it is a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Although emissions can be substantially reduced through energy efficiency measures, compliance with the Paris Agreement of 2015 requires further action through national frameworks for the decarbonization of fishing vessels. The objective of this paper is to explain the impact in greenhouse gas emissions from fishing vessels, discuss the possible regulatory indexes that could be made applicable to fishing vessels and how these ships can transition to alternative and low carbon fuels, identifying the main challenges in view of accident analysis and inspections.

Methods: It is recognized that mandatory indexes developed at the International Maritime Organisation are not feasible to apply, so new indexes are needed and possibly connected to fish captures. Most of these zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission fuels require technical and operational measures for accident prevention but, due to high rates of accidents related to fire, explosion and inhalation of gases, their use can lead to increase the rates of fatalities in an already dangerous profession. The main problem for their use is ventilation, enclosure of machinery spaces leading to preventive and design measures for the use of batteries and electricity and suitable training.

Conclusion: To avoid accidents, additional extra measures would be needed for fishing vessels. Therefore, to ease the transition towards new fuels those which are more similar to fossil marine diesels should be used; notwithstanding the use of other sources of energy such as solar and wind power.

Objective: People working in the Norwegian fish farming industry work in a high energy environment, where there are many hazards in the daily work. An important part of mitigating hazardous situations is to keep track of the characteristics of the accidents that have already happened and to learn from these, when planning future work. The objective of this study was to strengthen the knowledge of factors and conditions influencing personnel safety in Norwegian fish farming, based on analyses of registered occupational fatalities and injuries.

Methods: We gathered reported injuries and fatalities from vessels and fish farms from three different registries. Two of these are based on mandatory reporting to authorities, and one is a privately maintained registry. The accidents from the three registries are analyzed separately, and different types of characteristics are presented.

Results: The results demonstrate that fall and crush/impact are the most common types of accidents both on vessels and fish farms. Other characteristics described are the type of vessels involved and during which type of operations injuries happened. During the last 10 years, fatalities have happened mainly in relation to lifting and maintenance operations. The reported accidents are discussed in relation to the quality of accident reports, the development in the industry towards more specialized and outsourced operations, and it points to some of the major challenges that the industry faces when planning for safe working places and operations.

Conclusion: This overview can be used in the fish farming industry as a basis for going into further details about how accident prevention should be planned.

Most deaths due to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) occur on public roads, despite manufacturers' warnings that they are not designed for roadway use. Our study objective was to determine rural residents' use, knowledge, and attitudes regarding ATVs/UTVs on public roads. A convenience sample of 2022 Farm Progress Show attendees were surveyed (N = 361). Over 90% and over 75% of ATV/UTV users had driven on unpaved and paved public roads, respectively. Respondents from farms had higher proportions riding more frequently on roadways. A majority of participants stated it was safe to drive on both unpaved and paved public roads. Around 60% and more than 40% agreed with statements that ATVs/UTVs were designed for riding on unpaved and paved public roads, respectively. Only 26% and 31% agreed that most ATV and most UTV deaths occur on public roads. Moreover, just 8-29% disagreed with the incorrect assertion that manufacturers state ATVs/UTVs are safe to ride on public roads. In conclusion, many participants frequently drove ATVs/UTVs and had false beliefs related to the safety of these vehicles on public roadways. Efforts to educate users about the dangers of riding off-road vehicles on public roads and how to decrease associated risks are sorely needed.

Objectives: Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States, and although injuries have been a prominent focus for research, some health and safety risk factors such as sleep are understudied. In this paper, data from a multi-modal research study of sleep patterns, lifestyle factors, occupational exposures, medical histories, and health assessments in four U.S. fisheries are used to explore the connections between pain and sleep.

Methods: A mixture of randomized cluster sampling, study promotions, and dockside recruitment was utilized to gather a sufficient number of fishermen in the Alaska Salmon, Oregon Dungeness Crab, Massachusetts Scallop, and Massachusetts Lobster fisheries for the study. Fishermen were surveyed about sleep patterns, occupational exposures, and lifestyle factors. Surveyed fishermen were provided with free comprehensive health assessments by occupational health nurses and physicians or Advanced Practice Providers. Data were collected in REDCap and downloaded into SAS for analysis using a variety of analytic methods.

Results: A total of 262 surveys and 162 physical examinations were completed with captains and crew members in the four fisheries targeted for study. The average self-reported consecutive hours of sleep for fisheries workers that spend several days at sea (i.e. Crab, Scallop, and Salmon fisheries) were roughly 3.5 to 4.0 h in a 24-h period. Of particular note, the majority of fishermen, regardless of fishery, suffered from back pain, and roughly 40% of fishermen noted pain and discomfort significantly impede their ability to sleep.

Conclusions: This study underscores the connections between musculoskeletal pain and sleep, providing yet further impetus for preventing musculoskeletal injuries among fishermen. Given the ties between existing sleep debt in the industry and the health and safety risks posed by repeated exposure to insufficient sleep, this study highlights the need for the prevention of these injuries and potentially better treatment options for fishermen who suffer from musculoskeletal disorders.

Objective: Our paper focuses on the psychosocial risks faced by fishers in Aotearoa New Zealand, a sector with limited existing research on this topic. Using a culture-centered approach (CCA), we aimed to develop "voice infrastructure" to capture and present the voices of fishers, addressing the structural inequalities that can often leave fishers (like other marginalized groups) unheard. This paper focuses on the methodology of our pilot project that used a collaborative effort between academics, fishers, government, and non-government agencies, with the goal of understanding and mitigating the psychosocial risks within the commercial fishing industry.

Method: Phase 1 focused on building trust and personal relationships within the fishing community. We organized a day-long hui (meeting) in Nelson, a key fishing port, to facilitate open and flexible interactions. This setting allowed us to co-create the research design and instruments with the fishers, ensuring their perspectives were central to the study. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Risks Questionnaire (COPSOQ) was adapted in consultation with the fishers and piloted as survey (in phase 2) through a support network.

Results: Fishers acknowledged the need for wellbeing research and supported using the adapted COPSOQ. Data collection was inherently challenging in the fishing sector, due to the nature of the work with long shifts, limited communication, and minimal downtime. Trained mentors and counsellors administered the survey and ensured the process was fisher-centric and sensitive to their needs. Following data collection, a second hui (phase 3) was held to provide feedback to fishers about the survey results and review the process. This workshop aims to refine the methodology for potential national-scale implementation. The fishers emphasized the importance of sharing findings with them to ensure data accuracy before public reporting, aligning with the principles of CCA and co-creation of "voice infrastructures."

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of using a culture-centered approach in the fishing sector. By involving fishers in every step of the process, we aimed to create a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the psychosocial risks they face, ultimately contributing to their wellbeing and the sustainability of the industry.

Objectives: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poses an occupational risk for poultry workers, responders, and others in contact with infected birds. The objective of this analysis was to describe HPAI surveillance methods and outcomes, and highlight the challenges, successes, and lessons learned during the Minnesota Department of Health's (MDH's) public health response to HPAI outbreaks in Minnesota poultry flocks in the years 2015 and 2022-2023.

Methods: During both outbreaks, MDH staff attempted to contact all potentially exposed people and conduct a standardized interview. People were considered exposed and at risk if they had entered a barn with poultry on any HPAI test-positive premises. With their consent, exposed persons were entered into illness monitoring until 10 days from their last exposure. In 2015, MDH monitored the health of poultry workers only. In the 2022-2023 response, MDH monitored the health of poultry workers, backyard flock owners, responders, and private contract workers. In 2022-2023, interview responses were entered into a REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) database in real time, which automatically entered the person into monitoring if they consented. Through REDCap, they received an automated email with a unique link to a short survey asking about any symptom development. Where appropriate, interview responses from poultry workers collected in 2015 were compared to interview responses from poultry workers collected in 2022-2023.

Results: From March 3 to June 5, 2015, MDH epidemiologists interviewed and evaluated 375 (86%) of 435 poultry workers from 110 HPAI-infected flocks. From March 25, 2022 through December 31, 2023, MDH epidemiologists interviewed and evaluated 649 (65%) of 992 poultry workers, responders, contractors, and backyard flock owners associated with 151 HPAI-infected flocks. Among poultry workers, self-reported personal protective equipment (PPE) usage declined significantly from 2015 to 2022-2023 (full PPE usage 51.8% vs. 23.9%, p < .01).

Conclusion: MDH's long standing relationships with animal health officials and the poultry industry resulted in strong poultry worker participation rates in surveillance efforts during HPAI outbreaks in 2015 and 2022-2023. Self-reported PPE usage was low, particularly in 2022-2023. Improvements in PPE accessibility and technology are needed to protect workers and responders in the on-going HPAI outbreak.

Objective: In 2019/2020, the Brazilian coast was affected by the largest oil spill disaster affecting the extent of the coastline recorded in tropical oceans. The impact on fishing areas and the prohibition of seafood sales and consumption exacerbated small-scale fishers' vulnerability. The small-scale fishers (SSFs) were the most active in protecting fishing territories, carrying out cleanup efforts without adequate personal protective equipment. Following the disaster, they suffered significant economic losses, compromising food security, including consuming potentially unsafe seafood. About 5000 tons of oil residues were collected, mainly by artisanal fishers. This study aimed to describe and identify levels of exposure to oil spills in the artisanal fishers, the population affected by the disaster on the Brazilian coast.

Methods: This epidemiological cross-sectional study used a questionnaire containing 325 questions, administered to 959 artisanal fishers living in areas affected by the spill. The graded response model of the Item Response Theory (IRT) was used to classify the artisanal fishers regarding their level of exposure.

Results: The model identified three levels of exposure: low (17.5%), medium (19.8%), and high (7.6%) in oil removal and fishing activities.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that SSFs residing in areas affected by the oil spill showed different levels of oil exposure during oil removal activities and fishing/shellfishing activities. The results highlight the need for environmental monitoring of fishing territories, prioritizing these populations in disaster preparedness training, and including social, health, and labor assistance policies during and after oil spill disasters. This study contributes to planning integrated solutions for small-scale fishing programs.