Evaluation of a four year intervention to reduce musculoskeletal hazards among berry growers.
OBJECTIVE
Fresh market berry production workers are exposed to physical risk factors for musculoskeletal injury.


METHODS
We disseminated information through trade publications and other sources to berry managers in seven U.S. states about five prevention through design practices that were both safer and more profitable than traditional methods. We administered mail evaluation questionnaires prior to the intervention and after each of four intervention years to rolling, independent U.S. samples and to comparison New Zealand berry farm manager samples after years one through three.


RESULTS
U.S. manager self-reports of reading trade publication information increased compared to baseline values for two of five practices and self-reported awareness increased for four of five practices. There were no increases in adoption. More U.S. than New Zealand managers reported getting information about two practices from trade publications and about four practices from public events. No U.S. versus New Zealand differences were observed in reported awareness or adoption for any practice.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that even a modest campaign can build awareness of safer practices fairly quickly in three to four years among small agricultural firms but that increasing adoption apparently requires more time. Widespread adoption of safer practices could help keep operators in business longer as they age by reducing the workload and musculoskeletal strain associated with labor intensive crop production for them and their workforce. Adoption of practices that also improve profits, like the five practices featured in this study, could also help managers stay in business.
Chapman
Larry J
LJ
Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA. ljchapma@wisc.edu
Newenhouse
Astrid C
AC
Pereira
Kathryn M
KM
Karsh
Ben-Tzion
BT
Meyer
Robert M
RM
Brunette
Christopher M
CM
Ehlers
Janet J
JJ
D000383:Agriculture; D003625:Data Collection; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009520:New Zealand; D016272:Occupational Health; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States