Recorded presentation

Giulia Earle-Richardson, MPH, NYCAMH/NEC, Northeast Center for Agricultural & Occupational Health, 1 Atwell Rd, Cooperstown, NY 13326, 607-547-6023, gearlerichardson@nycamh.com and Paul Jenkins, MS, PhD, New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health, Northeast Center for Agricultural & Occupational Health, One Atwell Road, Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Musculoskeletal strain is a common and often debilitating problem for migrant and seasonal orchard harvest workers. Strain is believed to result from carrying heavy bags of apples (up to 40lbs.) while standing and reaching on ladders, descending, walking and bending to unload the apples into bins. Pilot research has demonstrated that an apple bag with a removable hip belt reduces load on the upper body and decreases back muscle activity (shown to be associated with strain). However, this reduction has not yet been demonstrated in the field. The specific aims of the research to be presented are to assess relative proportion of work hours spent with musculoskeletal strain among workers with the improved equipment versus those using a different, inconsequential equipment change (placebo). The design is experimental; workers on four New York apple orchards have been randomized to either the intervention or control condition, and will use that bag for the 8-week harvest season. A newly developed musculoskeletal strain interview will be combined with employer data on worker productivity to provide a validated measure of pain combined with impacts on worker functioning. Survey development methodology and results will be presented in addition to the finding of the main study.

Learning Objectives:

• participants will be able to list the 2 leading injury hazards for seasonal orchard workers
• participants will be able to describe the process of intervention development through the use of collaborative ergonomic teams in agriculture
• participants will be able to describe a testing process for assessment of whether a new ergonomic design reduces back, neck and shoulder strain in the orchard
• participants will be introduced to a new outcome measure for musculoskeletal strain

Keywords: Migrant Farm Workers, Injury Prevention

Related Web page: NYCAMH.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation