Evaluation of working conditions of workers engaged in tending horses.

The study aims to assess the exposure level to air pollution within a horse stable and determine the workload of workers involved in horse care. This research comes in connection with the growing interest in equine management and the related health problems among its workers.

Objective and Methodology

• The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the exposure level to air pollutants in a horse stable and estimate the workload of the workers tending to horses.
• The research was conducted twice during the winter season, in a stable that maintains race horses and the shared social room available to the workers.
• In order to evaluate the workers’ exposure level, air samples were collected using the aspiration method. This involves drawing air through a filter or into a liquid medium.
• The collected samples were then cultured and the amount of bacteria and fungi present in the air determined. Bacterial populations were measured in terms of aerobic mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria and expressed as the number of colony-forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3).
• In conjunction with the bacterial and fungal counts, total dust concentration in the air was also measured alongside some basic microclimatic parameters.
• The second part of the study involved the assessment of workload through the measurement of energy expenditure, evaluation of the level of static physical labour, and the monotony of job-related movements.

Results and Conclusion

• The results of the analysis showed that the horse stable does present an environment with significant risk of detrimental health effects due to exposure to air pollutants.
• The data suggests an environment with high levels of bacteria, fungi and dust, possibly leading to respiratory health problems and other conditions among the workers.
• The study also noted the high level of physical effort required in the day-to-day tasks of the workers, with repetitive and monotonous movements forming a significant part of their responsibilities.

Despite the research’s focused scope and limited sampling size, the findings could have broader implications for occupational health standards and precautions in the horse-care industry. Further research in different environments and larger populations would aid in solidifying these conclusions.