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International journal of environmental research and public health2021; 18(19); 10385; doi: 10.3390/ijerph181910385

Framing Future of Work Considerations through Climate and Built Environment Assessment of Volunteer Work Practices in the United States Equine Assisted Services.

Abstract: The foundation of healthy workplace design is an understanding of work practices. Volunteers comprise the majority of the workforce in care centers using horses to address human health issues. Documentation is lacking on protections for worker well-being in equestrian microenvironments which are known to have the potential for dust exposures. Climate acts as a master variable in equestrian facility design and ventilation usage to address dust and temperature concerns. Using climate as an independent variable, our objective was to characterize space usage, safety, environmental control, and organizational practices through a national survey of equine assisted programs. We found that more fully enclosed indoor arena spaces were in cold/very cold and mixed-humid climates ( = 0.0114). Annually more volunteers ( = 0.0073) work in these two climate groups averaging 100 volunteers per location. A total of 34% of all facilities, regardless of climate, do not use mechanical ventilation systems (e.g., fans). As volunteer worker time in the arena increased, time in the barn microenvironment tended to decrease ( = 0.0538). We identified facility designs, ventilation usage, and worker arrangements to refine the scalability of future air contaminant monitoring and to provide frameworks for education, workplace design, and prevention of exposure to dust.
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Publication Date: 2021-10-02 PubMed ID: 34639685PubMed Central: PMC8508050DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910385Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research utilized a survey to understand how conditions and practices vary in centers that use equine-assisted therapies across differing climates in the United States, with specific attention on dust exposures and the use of mechanical ventilation systems in indoor arenas.

Understanding the Research Context

  • Equine-assisted therapy is therapy which includes horses, and it has grown in popularity, which means a majority of the workforce at these centers are volunteers.
  • The focus of this research is on assessing the work environment in these therapy settings, especially as it relates to worker health, dust exposures and climate conditions.
  • This research is important as there is limited documentation on what measures are taken to ensure the well-being of volunteers working in these equestian environments.
  • The survey explores aspects such as space utility, safety measures, environmental control mechanisms and how they are organized.

Key Findings

  • The center’s climate had a significant impact on the design of equine facilities and use of ventilation systems, particularly for managing dust and temperature levels.
  • The survey revealed that enclosed indoor areas are more likely to be found in cold/very cold and mixed-humid climates.
  • These two climate groups also saw the most volunteers working on average at the facilities, equating to approximately 100 volunteers per location annually.
  • Significantly, the study found that regardless of the climate, 34% of all facilities do not use mechanical ventilation systems, like fans.
  • Additionally, a trend was discovered where the more time a volunteer spent working in the arena, the less time they spent in the barn environment.

Implications for Future Research and Practice

  • This study will help guide the design of future air quality monitoring systems in these facilities, which will contribute to providing a safer and healthier work environment for volunteers in this field.
  • It will also offer frameworks for education, workplace design strategies and for preventing exposure to dust.
  • Specific attention should be given to the use and placement of mechanical ventilation systems across all climates.

Cite This Article

APA
Tumlin K, Liu S, Park JH. (2021). Framing Future of Work Considerations through Climate and Built Environment Assessment of Volunteer Work Practices in the United States Equine Assisted Services. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(19), 10385. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910385

Publication

International journal of environmental research and public health
ISSN: 1660-4601
NlmUniqueID: 101238455
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 19
PII: 10385

Researcher Affiliations

Tumlin, Kimberly
  • Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Liu, Sa
  • School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Park, Jae-Hong
  • School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Built Environment
  • Dust / analysis
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • United States
  • Ventilation
  • Volunteers
  • Workplace

Grant Funding

  • T42OH008432 / NIOSH CDC HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Keener MM, Tumlin KI. The Triple-E Model: Advancing Equestrian Research with Perspectives from One Health.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 16;13(16).
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  2. Tumlin KI, Riley EN, Vsevolozhskaya O, Cull M. Lower Emotional Exhaustion among Employees Is Associated with Intentional Incorporation of Animals into Residential Care Settings.. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023 May 16;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/bs13050421pubmed: 37232658google scholar: lookup
  3. Tamers SL, Streit JMK, Chosewood C. Promising Occupational Safety, Health, and Well-Being Approaches to Explore the Future of Work in the USA: An Editorial.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Feb 3;19(3).
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