Poor safety climate, long work hours, and musculoskeletal discomfort among Latino horse farm workers.
Abstract: This study investigated the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) and work-related factors associated with elevated MSD among Latino thoroughbred farm workers. Participants (N = 225) were recruited using a community-based purposive sampling approach to participate in in-person interviews. Of these workers, 85% experienced MSD. MSD was divided into tertiles; the upper tertile was defined as elevated. Multivariable Poisson regression revealed associations between any elevated MSD and longer tenure on horse farms, longer work hours, and poor safety climate. Elevated neck/back MSD was associated with longer tenure, longer work hours, and poor safety climate. Elevated upper extremity MSD was associated with age and poor safety climate. Elevated lower extremity MSD was associated with longer tenure, longer work hours, and being female. Musculoskeletal discomfort is common among these workers. Improving safety climate and minimizing long work hours is recommended.
Publication Date: 2016-08-11 PubMed ID: 27594197DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2016.1216387Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort amongst Latino horse farm workers, highlighting factors such as poor safety climate, longer work hours, and other work-related factors that influence this.
Research Methodology
- The research used a community-based purposive sampling approach to select its participants.
- 225 Latino thoroughbred farm workers participated in in-person interviews.
Findings
- The researchers found that a significant percentage of the workers, 85%, experienced musculoskeletal discomfort.
- This discomfort was divided into tertiles – the upper tertile being defined as elevated.
- Analysis of the data collected using Multivariable Poisson regression revealed correlations between elevated musculoskeletal discomfort and certain work factors.
Work Factors and Musculoskeletal Discomfort
- The study found that an increase in the duration of time spent working on horse farms, as well as longer work hours, were both associated with any elevated musculoskeletal discomfort.
- Poor safety conditions at the workplace (referred to as poor safety climate) was another factor that correlated with elevated musculoskeletal discomfort.
- Farm workers who experienced discomfort specifically in the neck/back region also reported these same factors – longer work duration, excessive work hours, and poor safety conditions.
- Those who reported discomfort in the upper extremities (arms, hands, etc.) were found to be older in age and to be working under poor safety conditions.
- Female workers, and those having been in the job for a longer tenure and working longer hours were more likely to report musculoskeletal discomfort in the lower extremities (legs, feet, etc.).
Recommendations
- The research draws attention to the common plight of musculoskeletal discomfort among Latino horse farm workers.
- To address this concern, the study advises the implementation of improvements in the safety conditions, and limiting long work hours.
Cite This Article
APA
Swanberg J, Clouser JM, Gan W, Flunker JC, Westneat S, Browning SR.
(2016).
Poor safety climate, long work hours, and musculoskeletal discomfort among Latino horse farm workers.
Arch Environ Occup Health, 72(5), 264-271.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2016.1216387 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a School of Social Work , University of Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
- b Department of Health, Behavior and Society , College of Public Health, University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
- c Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
- d Department of Epidemiology, Department of Health Behavior , College of Public Health, University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
- c Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
- e Department of Epidemiology , College of Public Health, University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Animal Husbandry / organization & administration
- Animal Husbandry / statistics & numerical data
- Animals
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Farmers / statistics & numerical data
- Female
- Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / epidemiology
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / etiology
- Occupational Health
- Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / statistics & numerical data
- Prevalence
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Arcury TA, Smith SA, Talton JW, Quandt SA. The Abysmal Organization of Work and Work Safety Culture Experienced by North Carolina Latinx Women in Farmworker Families. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Apr 8;19(8).
- Lindahl C, Bergman Bruhn Å, Andersson IM. Occupational Safety Climate in the Swedish Equine Sector. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 11;12(4).
- Fargnoli M, Lombardi M. NOSACQ-50 for Safety Climate Assessment in Agricultural Activities: A Case Study in Central Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Dec 8;17(24).
- Douphrate DI, Rodriguez A, Kines P, Hossein Javid A. Effect of Dairy Farm Supervisor Leadership Training on Workplace Safety Climate. Workplace Health Saf 2025 May;73(5):227-235.
- Nieuwsma J, Lee JGL, Bloss JE, LePrevost CE, Mendez IM, Harwell EL, Cofie LE. Assessing the Understandability and Actionability of Education Materials for Agricultural Workers' Health. J Agromedicine 2025 Jul;30(3):480-495.
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