David I. Douphrate

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

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.

Accuracy and repeatability of an inertial measurement unit system for field-based occupational studies

Abstract The accuracy and repeatability of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) system for directly measuring trunk angular displacement and upper arm elevation were evaluated over eight hours (i) in comparison to a gold standard, optical motion capture (OMC) system in a laboratory setting, and (ii) during a field-based assessment of dairy parlour work. Sample-to-sample root mean square differences between the IMU and OMC system ranged from 4.1° to 6.6° for the trunk and 7.2°–12.1° for the upper arm depending on the processing method. Estimates of mean angular displacement and angular displacement variation (difference between the 90th and 10th percentiles of angular displacement) were observed to change <4.5° on average in the laboratory and <1.5° on average in the field per eight hours of data collection. Results suggest the IMU system may serve as an acceptable instrument for directly measuring trunk and upper arm postures in field-based occupational exposure assessment studies with long sampling durations. Practitioner Summary: Few studies have evaluated inertial measurement unit (IMU) systems in the field or over long sampling durations. Results of this study indicate that the IMU system evaluated has reasonably good accuracy and repeatability for use in a field setting over a long sampling duration.

Prevalence of work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms among US large‐herd dairy parlor workers

BACKGROUND Dairy production in the US is moving towards large-herd milking operations resulting in an increase in task specialization and work demands. METHODS A modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was administered to assess MSS prevalence among 452 US large-herd parlor workers. Worker demographics and MSS prevalences were assessed, and differences based on parlor configuration (i.e., herringbone, parallel, rotary) were computed. RESULTS Three-fourths (76.4%) of parlor workers reported work-related MSS in at least one body part. Highest prevalences were reported in the upper extremity (55%). Herringbone workers reported a higher prevalence of MSS in the wrist/hand, and rotary workers reported higher prevalences of MSS in the neck, upper back, and shoulders. CONCLUSIONS Our findings draw attention to higher work-related MSS in the upper extremity among dairy parlor workers. As the trend toward larger herd sizes on US dairy farms continues, the need for further health and safety research will increase.

Work-Related Injuries and Fatalities on Dairy Farm Operations—A Global Perspective

ABSTRACT Agriculture is among the most hazardous sectors for workers globally, and dairy farming has been associated with a high risk of injury among workers in several countries. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on what is known about modern dairy farms and related injuries and fatalities in different regions of the world. As in other sectors of agriculture, fatalities appear to be associated with heavy equipment usage, whereas injuries occur at higher rates with animal production, specifically cattle and milk production. Dairy farming is associated with higher rates of injury as compared with other industrial sectors, but a lack of work-related injury reporting continues to be an issue in several countries. Worker fatality associated with heavy equipment use is not a new observation (e.g., tractors); however, manure-handling systems, livestock handling, and quad bike operation continue to be associated with worker injuries and fatalities on modern farms. Opportunities exist for improvement of safety-related equipment to reduce injury and fatality risk during worker interactions with large animals and farm equipment.

The Dairy Industry: A Brief Description of Production Practices, Trends, and Farm Characteristics Around the World

ABSTRACT The global dairy industry is composed of a multitude of countries with unique production practices and consumer markets. The global average number of cows per farm is about 1–2 cows; however, as a farm business model transitions from sustenance to market production, the average herd size, and subsequent labor force increases. Dairy production is unique as an agricultural commodity because milk is produced daily, for 365 days per year. With the introduction of new technology such as the milking parlor, the global industry trend is one of increasing farm sizes. The farm sizes are the largest in the United States; however, the European Union produces the most milk compared with other global producers. Dairy production is essential for economic development and sustainable communities in rural areas. However, the required capital investment and availability of local markets and labor are continued challenges. Due to farm expansion, international producers are faced with new challenges related to assuring food safety and a safe working environment for their workforce. These challenges exist in addition to the cultural and language barriers related to an increasing dependence on immigrant labor in many regions of the world. Continued success of the global dairy industry is vital. Therefore, research should continue to address the identification of occupational risk factors associated with injuries and illnesses, as well as develop cost-effective interventions and practices that lead to the minimization or elimination of these injuries and illnesses on a global scale, among our valuable population of dairy producers and workers.

Ergonomics in Modern Dairy Practice: A Review of Current Issues and Research Needs

ABSTRACT Dairy farming is an ancient occupation. Traditionally, cows have been manually milked while tethered in stalls or stanchions. In the latter half of the 20th century as machine milking emerged, the parlor milking system has become more popular, especially among larger dairy farms. The transition from manual milking to automatic milking systems as well as the transition from stanchion to parlor milking systems involved a dramatic change in milking tasks. These transitions have resulted in changing patterns of occupational exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dairy workers. However, aspects of the milking task such as sanitization of teats, stripping milk from teats, and attachment and detachment of milking equipment have remained relatively the same. Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms have been reported in the low back, shoulders, hands/wrists, and knees. Research that has measured exposures to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dairy farm workers has been limited, especially when using ergonomic tools to directly measure exposure, such as electrogoniometry or electromyography. Self-reported exposure measures have been most commonly used. The interventions that have been tested to reduce exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders include assisted lift-hold devices, use of lighter-weight equipment, adjustable flooring, and use of rubber mats. However, research evaluating potential solutions to reduce dairy farm worker exposure to risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders is scarce. Future research efforts should further characterize hazards while simultaneously testing viable solutions that fit within the business model of the dairy farm industry.

Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among dairy workers

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among dairy workers. METHODS Sixty-six dairy parlor workers and 58 non-parlor workers at dairies in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado participated in structured interviews regarding demographics, work history, and hand symptoms. All participants had nerve conduction studies performed on both hands across the carpal tunnel. A CTS case definition was based on the presence of characteristic CTS symptoms and an abnormal median mononeuropathy across the carpal tunnel. RESULTS The prevalence of CTS among the dairy parlor workers was 16.6% and 3.6% among non-parlor workers. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) with an odds ratio of 5.3, CI (1.1-25.5). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that CTS is a significant challenge for dairy parlor workers. The prevalence of CTS was found to be significantly higher among dairy workers performing tasks in the milking parlor as opposed to workers performing tasks in other areas of the dairy farm. The results emphasize the need for administrative and engineering controls to limit the exposure to physical risk factors that are associated with upper limb disorders such as CTS.

A Review of Health and Safety Leadership and Managerial Practices on Modern Dairy Farms

ABSTRACT As modern dairy operations around the world expand, farmers are increasingly reliant on greater automation and larger numbers of hired labor to milk cows and perform other essential farm tasks. Dairy farming is among the most dangerous occupations, with high rates of injury, illness, and employee turnover. Lower education levels, illiteracy, and limited language proficiency increase the possibility of injury or death associated with higher risk occupations such as dairy. Sustaining a healthy, productive workforce is a critical component of risk management; however, many owners and managers have not received formal training in employee management or occupational health and safety. Optimal dairy farming management should address milk production that is sustainable and responsible from the animal welfare, social, economic, and environmental perspectives. Each of these aspects is interdependent with each other and with a sustainable, healthy, productive workforce. Very few studies address the effectiveness of risk management in the dairy industry. Studies suggest that labor management practices are a potential competitive advantage for dairy farms, but the connection with efficiency, productivity, and profitability has not been clearly demonstrated. Transformational leadership has been associated with improved safety climate and reduced incidence of injury, whereas passive leadership styles have opposite effects. There is a need to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of safety-specific transformational leadership among dairy owners and managers. A systematic approach to risk management should address worker health and safety as an integral component of production, food safety, and animal welfare. A successful program must address the cultural and linguistic barriers associated with immigrant workers.

Occupational health and safety aspects of animal handling in dairy production.

ABSTRACT Livestock handling in dairy production is associated with a number of health and safety issues. A large number of fatal and nonfatal injuries still occur when handling livestock. The many animal handling tasks on a dairy farm include moving cattle between different locations, vaccination, administration of medication, hoof care, artificial insemination, ear tagging, milking, and loading onto trucks. There are particular problems with bulls, which continue to cause considerable numbers of injuries and fatalities in dairy production. In order to reduce the number of injuries during animal handling on dairy farms, it is important to understand the key factors in human-animal interactions. These include handler attitudes and behavior, animal behavior, and fear in cows. Care when in close proximity to the animal is the key for safe handling, including knowledge of the flight zone, and use of the right types of tools and suitable restraint equipment. Thus, in order to create safe working conditions during livestock handling, it is important to provide handlers with adequate training and to establish sound safety management procedures on the farm.

Evaluation of Parlor Cleaning as an Intervention for Decreased Occupational Exposure to Dust and Endotoxin Among Dairy Parlor Workers—A Pilot Study

Agreater prevalence of respiratory symptoms has been observed among workers involved in animal production compared to other farmers and rural residents.(1) In addition, respiratory diseases such as byssinosis,(2) asthma,(3) allergic alveolitis,(4) chronic bronchitis,(5) and the organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS)(6) have been reported among workers in the animal feed industry, slaughterhouses, compost facilities, and other agriculture-related industries.(7) Respiratory hazards such as organic dust, microorganisms, fungi, molds, and endotoxin are common in the dairy industry.(8) Exposure to organic dust and endotoxin may lead to pulmonary inflammation among dairy parlor workers.(9–11) Organic dusts are associated with intensive livestock operations, such as dairy, swine, and poultry production; however differences in the components of these organic dusts have been reported.(12,13) A substantial amount of work has evaluated the effects of organic dust exposure among swine workers, whereas less is known about these exposures among dairy parlor workers.(13–16) Sources of organic dust on dairy farms include feed/hay grinding and animal sources, such as hair and feces.(17) Little information is available on the impact of these exposures among workers in the dairy industry. However, a few studies have demonstrated an association of dust and endotoxin exposure with markers of lung inflammation among dairy parlor workers.(9,12,18) The primary task of dairy parlor workers is to milk the cows. Cows are moved through the parlor building using workers to guide the animals as well as mechanical gating systems. Cows enter the parlor on an elevated platform for milking. Cows are typically milked three times a day over a series of three 8-hr shifts.(19) The walkways and other surfaces that come into contact with the animals become soiled with animal waste. Workers use an automated cleaning system to remove animal waste from the parlor surfaces. Therefore, increasing the frequency in which these walkways and other surfaces are cleaned may reduce the concentration of aerosolized dust and endotoxin in the milking parlor. Parlor workers spend their work shift in proximity to cows and animal waste, which may be sources of inhalation exposure to organic dust and endotoxin. Therefore, these workers may be more exposed to inflammatory agents, as organic dust and endotoxin, compared to other workers on the dairy farm. The objective of our study was to assess occupational exposure to dust and endotoxin among dairy parlor workers. This study also evaluated the effectiveness of increasing the frequency of cleaning the dairy parlor surfaces on dust and endotoxin inhalation exposure among parlor workers.