Citation

Vudhironarit C, Arphorn S, Thanachoksawang C, Theppitak C, Kiatkitroj K, Lertvarayut T, Phuaram J, Hara K, Ishimaru T. Ind. Health 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, National Institute of Industrial Health, Japan)

DOI

10.2486/indhealth.2023-0060

PMID

37394530

Abstract

Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) represent a main source of injury among farm workers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between farm operations and STFs among corn farm workers.We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire among corn farm workers in Nan and Saraburi provinces, Thailand from July 5 to 23, 2022. Poisson regression analysis was used.Among 338 participants, 122 (36.1%) had experienced an STF in the previous 6 months. Conducting very frequent, frequent, or occasional pest management was associated with a higher incidence rate ratio (IRR) of STFs than never or rarely pest management (adjusted IRR 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23 to 3.04, p=0.004). People with marginal or unsatisfactory work break lengths had a higher incidence rate of STFs than those with satisfactory work breaks (adjusted IRR 1.40, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.89, p=0.030).We found that corn farm workers in our study often experienced STFs, which was associated with a high frequency of pest management practices and inadequate work breaks. Reducing the physical burden of pest management may be effective as an STF prevention strategy.

Language: en

Keywords

Agriculture; Occupational safety; Occupational injury; Fall; Farm worker