Keeping workers safe: does provision of personal protective equipment match supervisor risk perceptions?
Abstract: Although farm management may understand agriculture's risks, they may not provide personal protective equipment (PPE). This study describes thoroughbred farm management's risk perceptions, provision of PPE, and factors that influence its provision. Methods: Thirty-five representatives from 26 farms participated in a 1-4hr semi-structured interview covering perceived risks associated with horse work and perspectives and provision of PPE. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, entered into ATLAS.ti, and analyzed by three coders. Results: Management cited horse-related tasks as most dangerous, yet horse-related PPE as least provided because of 1) differences in farm context, 2) the belief that workers were most important agents in their safety, 3) lack of confidence in its effectiveness, and 4) the perception that risk could never be eliminated. Conclusions: PPE provision was limited by management's poor perceptions of its efficacy relative to other factors. Future research should explore workers' perceptions and PPE's effectiveness in averting horse-related injury.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Publication Date: 2015-04-29 PubMed ID: 25931154DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22464Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- 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.
The research article discusses the mismatch between farm management’s risk perceptions and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) on thoroughbred horse farms. The study explores the factors that influence why PPE is not being provided despite the recognition of risks involved in horse-related tasks.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted by interviewing thirty-five representatives from twenty-six farms. These interviews were semi-structured and focused on the perceived risks in dealing with horses and the views and provision of PPE.
- The interviews, which lasted between one to four hours each, were audio-recorded and transcribed.
- A software known as ATLAS.ti was used to store the transcribed data, which was analyzed by three coders. Their findings formed the crux of this research.
Research Findings
- The study found that farm management perceived tasks related to horses as the most risky.
- However, contradictory to their risk perceptions, personal protective equipment that were horse-related were the least supplied.
- The reasons for this mismatch were attributed to: differences in farm context, a prevailing belief amongst managers that workers are primarily responsible for their own safety, a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of PPE, and a perception that risks cannot be entirely eliminated, leading to complacency in providing PPE.
Conclusion and Future Work
- The study concluded that the provision of personal protective equipment was limited due to management’s poor perception of its effectiveness in comparison to other safety factors.
- The paper suggests future research take into account the perceptions of the farm workers as well, along with exploring the effectiveness of personal protective equipment in preventing horse-related injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Clouser JM, Swanberg JE, Bundy H.
(2015).
Keeping workers safe: does provision of personal protective equipment match supervisor risk perceptions?
Am J Ind Med, 58(8), 886-896.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22464 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
- Baltimore School of Social Work, University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore, MD.
- Department of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Animal Husbandry / organization & administration
- Animals
- Farmers / psychology
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Occupational Injuries / prevention & control
- Occupational Injuries / psychology
- Organizational Culture
- Perception
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Qualitative Research
- Risk
- Safety Management / methods
- Safety Management / organization & administration
Grant Funding
- 5U54OH007547-13 / NIOSH CDC HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Thomée S, Jakobsson K. Life-changing or trivial: Electricians' views about electrical accidents.. Work 2018;60(4):573-585.
- Cecchini M, Bedini R, Mosetti D, Marino S, Stasi S. Safety Knowledge and Changing Behavior in Agricultural Workers: an Assessment Model Applied in Central Italy.. Saf Health Work 2018 Jun;9(2):164-171.
- Clouser JM, Bush A, Gan W, Swanberg J. Associations of Work Stress, Supervisor Unfairness, and Supervisor Inability to Speak Spanish with Occupational Injury among Latino Farmworkers.. J Immigr Minor Health 2018 Aug;20(4):894-901.
- Robin C, Bettridge J, McMaster F. Zoonotic disease risk perceptions in the British veterinary profession.. Prev Vet Med 2017 Jan 1;136:39-48.
- Swanberg JE, Clouser JM, Bush A, Westneat S. From the Horse Worker's Mouth: A Detailed Account of Injuries Experienced by Latino Horse Workers.. J Immigr Minor Health 2016 Jun;18(3):513-521.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
