Arbete i kyla vid mjölkproduktionsanläggningar: Kartläggning och studie av termiska arbetsmiljöproblem
Work in dairy-farms during the cold season: Survey and field study of the thermal environment
Author
Summary, in English
The aim of the project was to analyse problems with cold when working in dairyfarms
with respect to prevalence, frequency and risk for injuries and to propose
measures for improvements of thermal conditions.
The project comprised two parts: a field study and a questionnaire survey.
The field studies were performed at seven dairy-farms in the Uppsala region and
six dairy-farms in the northern region of Sweden (Västerbotten). Four of the farms
in the Uppsala region were non-insulated loose housing barns, one was an insulated
loose housing barn and two had traditional barns with tie stall. In Västerbotten, five
of the
farms were non-insulated loose housing barns and one was an insulated loose
housing barn. In total, 20 farmers were studied during milking and animal feeding
and maintenance. The majority of the studied farmers were owners of the farm and
family members.
During the field study, both physiological and physical measurements were performed.
In addition, a detailed observation of the work, which enabled linking of
measured data and the work tasks that were carried out. The physiological measurements
included
skin temperature of different body parts and heart rate. All subjects and their
clothes were weighed before and after work in order to estimate sweating and
evaporation. Further, the energetic workload was measured at the farms in
Västerbotten. The physical measurements concerned air and surface temperature
and air velocity in the buildings where work was performed as well as outdoors.
A questionnaire was sent to 140 dairy-farms in the northern part of Sweden. The
questions concerned problems and discomfort that may be related to cold, for
example, how cold affected the work, problems with clothing, gloves and footwear.
As was expected, the study showed that cold might cause considerable stress for
dairy-farmers during cold weather. However, problems with cold should be
viewed in a larger context. Workers in dairy-farms are exposed to several physical
and physiological stressors in the work environment, such as moisture, organic
dust, musculoskeletal stress and mental stress. During winter, cold adds to these
stressors, which increases
the environmental load on the individual.
The typical climate in the raised milking parlours was as follows: low air temperature,
which was lowest at foot level, high humidity, moisture, frequent draught and
low surface temperatures. Hands and fingers often became cold during milking.
The hands were
often 20-25 °C. Especially the finger temperatures dropped to low levels during
milking. In many cases it was below 16 °C for almost the whole spell of work.
Finger temperatures down to 6 °C were observed at the end of the milking period in
milking parlours with a non-insulated holding area, and 9 °C in milking parlours
with an insulated holding area.
In many cases, foot and toe temperatures dropped to unacceptably low levels. The
reasons for cold feet were reported to be the result of inadequate footwear. This
problem was probably related to the fact that rubber boots without an insulation
layer were very common among the farmers. The second most common problem
was sweaty or wet feet.
An important way to be protected from cold is to use adequate clothing. Cotton,
which absorbs moisture and water well, was a very common material in the garments
worn
by the farmers. For the outer layer of the clothing, a water-repellent material is a
better alternative in cold-wet environments. At heavy work, which results in
sweating, cotton
is not the most appropriate material to wear close to the skin. Sweat is absorbed
by the cotton and thus stays at the skin. This leads to discomfort and feels cold
when heavy work changes to light work, or when the worker moves outdoors.
Many commercial non-absorbing materials, which may contribute to better
thermal comfort, are available. When using underwear made of such materials,
the moisture is transported away from the skin to other clothing layers.
Both the survey results and the observations indicated that cold was experienced as
a minor problem in farms with non-insulated loose housing barns even though
most of the participating farms were situated in one of the coldest regions of
Sweden. In non-insulated loose housing barns, the work and the protection from
cold is most likely adjusted to
the cold climate, and temperature changes may lead to less discomfort, at least, for
that reason. Greater experience of work in cold conditions probably contributes to a
work organisation that minimises cold problems. In traditional barns, temperature
changes between buildings and outdoors are common and were considered a major
cause for thermal discomfort.
Based on the results from this study, recommendations have been worked out.
They provide a long list of interventions to prevent cold hands and feet, advice
about clothing and other measures for improvements of the thermal conditions.
with respect to prevalence, frequency and risk for injuries and to propose
measures for improvements of thermal conditions.
The project comprised two parts: a field study and a questionnaire survey.
The field studies were performed at seven dairy-farms in the Uppsala region and
six dairy-farms in the northern region of Sweden (Västerbotten). Four of the farms
in the Uppsala region were non-insulated loose housing barns, one was an insulated
loose housing barn and two had traditional barns with tie stall. In Västerbotten, five
of the
farms were non-insulated loose housing barns and one was an insulated loose
housing barn. In total, 20 farmers were studied during milking and animal feeding
and maintenance. The majority of the studied farmers were owners of the farm and
family members.
During the field study, both physiological and physical measurements were performed.
In addition, a detailed observation of the work, which enabled linking of
measured data and the work tasks that were carried out. The physiological measurements
included
skin temperature of different body parts and heart rate. All subjects and their
clothes were weighed before and after work in order to estimate sweating and
evaporation. Further, the energetic workload was measured at the farms in
Västerbotten. The physical measurements concerned air and surface temperature
and air velocity in the buildings where work was performed as well as outdoors.
A questionnaire was sent to 140 dairy-farms in the northern part of Sweden. The
questions concerned problems and discomfort that may be related to cold, for
example, how cold affected the work, problems with clothing, gloves and footwear.
As was expected, the study showed that cold might cause considerable stress for
dairy-farmers during cold weather. However, problems with cold should be
viewed in a larger context. Workers in dairy-farms are exposed to several physical
and physiological stressors in the work environment, such as moisture, organic
dust, musculoskeletal stress and mental stress. During winter, cold adds to these
stressors, which increases
the environmental load on the individual.
The typical climate in the raised milking parlours was as follows: low air temperature,
which was lowest at foot level, high humidity, moisture, frequent draught and
low surface temperatures. Hands and fingers often became cold during milking.
The hands were
often 20-25 °C. Especially the finger temperatures dropped to low levels during
milking. In many cases it was below 16 °C for almost the whole spell of work.
Finger temperatures down to 6 °C were observed at the end of the milking period in
milking parlours with a non-insulated holding area, and 9 °C in milking parlours
with an insulated holding area.
In many cases, foot and toe temperatures dropped to unacceptably low levels. The
reasons for cold feet were reported to be the result of inadequate footwear. This
problem was probably related to the fact that rubber boots without an insulation
layer were very common among the farmers. The second most common problem
was sweaty or wet feet.
An important way to be protected from cold is to use adequate clothing. Cotton,
which absorbs moisture and water well, was a very common material in the garments
worn
by the farmers. For the outer layer of the clothing, a water-repellent material is a
better alternative in cold-wet environments. At heavy work, which results in
sweating, cotton
is not the most appropriate material to wear close to the skin. Sweat is absorbed
by the cotton and thus stays at the skin. This leads to discomfort and feels cold
when heavy work changes to light work, or when the worker moves outdoors.
Many commercial non-absorbing materials, which may contribute to better
thermal comfort, are available. When using underwear made of such materials,
the moisture is transported away from the skin to other clothing layers.
Both the survey results and the observations indicated that cold was experienced as
a minor problem in farms with non-insulated loose housing barns even though
most of the participating farms were situated in one of the coldest regions of
Sweden. In non-insulated loose housing barns, the work and the protection from
cold is most likely adjusted to
the cold climate, and temperature changes may lead to less discomfort, at least, for
that reason. Greater experience of work in cold conditions probably contributes to a
work organisation that minimises cold problems. In traditional barns, temperature
changes between buildings and outdoors are common and were considered a major
cause for thermal discomfort.
Based on the results from this study, recommendations have been worked out.
They provide a long list of interventions to prevent cold hands and feet, advice
about clothing and other measures for improvements of the thermal conditions.
Publishing year
2002
Language
Swedish
Publication/Series
JTI Lantbruk & Industri
Document type
Report
Publisher
JTI
Topic
- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Status
Published
Report number
290
Research group
- Thermal Environment Laboratory
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1401-4963