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Asian Region
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Lubin Seminar on Physical Risks in Farm Work Kiev Confab on Health and Safety in Farm Work Interesting WHO Books Come off the presses Lubin Seminar on Physical Risks in Farm Work Focusing on physical risks in agriculture, the V International Seminar on Ergonomics, Work Safety and Occupational Hygiene was held at the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin on October 26-28, 1998. The meeting was organized by the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin in association with the National Labor Inspection in Warsaw, Agricultural Social Insurance Fund in Warsaw, Agency for State Treasure and Agricultural Pro- perty in Warsaw and Polish Ergonomic Associa- tion Agency in Lublin. The president of the Organizing Committee was Prof. Jerzy Zag6rski, director of the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin and president of the Ergonomics and Safety Commission of the International Association of Agricultural Medi- cine and Rural Health (LAA~. The scientific secretary was Dr. Leszek Solecki, president of the Lublin Section of the Polish Association for Ergonomics. On this unique seminar, Dr. Solecki has pro- vided the IAAMRH Secretariat with the following report: About 1 00 participants from Poland, Gennany, Finland and the Ukraine participated in the seminar. The three-day meeting of scientists and practitioners concerned issues associated with physical hazards present in agriculture. The scientific program covered a plenary session (four papers) and five subject sessions (31 papers). Keynote papers were presented by Prof. Jerzy Zag6rski under the title of "Actions of the Institute of Agricultural Medicine for Improve- ments in the Health Status of Rural Populations"; Dr. T. Sutkowski spoke about "Seminar: Er- gonomics, Work Safety and Occupational Hygiene in Agriculture -- an Important Compo- nent of Agricultural Occupational Prevention"; Dr. W. Kobielski talked about "Effects of Selected Physical Hmards in Agriculture on the Incidence of Occupational Accidents, and Dis-eases Among Farmers Insured by the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund"; L. Kochanski MA. spoke of "Activities of the Agency for State Treasure and Agricultural Property in Prevention of Accidents, Occupational Diseases and Elimination of Risks." The subject sessions concerned the following issues: - Review of physical factors in agriculture (noise, vibration and dustiness), unfavorable thermal environment mechanical factors causing injuries, electromagnetic fields). . Effects of physical factors in agriculture on the human body (noise, mechanical vibration, agri- cultural dust and thermal environment). . I-Icalth effects associated with the influence of physical factors (occupational hearing loss, dust- related respiratory diseases, soft-tissue pain syn- dromes, injuries caused by accidents). . Prevention: technical prevention, legal solu- tions, means of personal protection (technical progress, certification of machinery, personal hearing protectors, protectors for the respiratory system, protective clothing against the unfavor- able thermal environment, and protection against electric shock). - Prevention: medical prophylaxis, organizational actions (prophylaxis of occupational hearing impairment, vibration disease and respiratory diseases, safe use of machinery, health prorno- tion). In the first subject session, L. Soleeki dis- cussed the state of noise risks among Polish agd- cultural workers. The author proved that the high- est noise levels are emitted during work with such machinery as tractors matched with agricultural units, self-propelled agricultural machines (combine harvesters, straw cutters and mowers), stationary agricultural machinery (threshers, grain ills, crushing mills, shredders and milking ma- chines), and workshop and construction machines (chain saws, circular saws, grinders, drills, welders and concrete mixers). K. Louhelainen stated that the number of noise-related occupational diseases recorded a- mong Finnish farmers ranged from 16 to 61. Annual exposure to noise on each Finnish farm in the study exceeded the allowable level (85 dB- A). Dr. Sopleeki paid attention to another physical factor present in agriculture -- namely, vibration transmitted to the whole body with the maximum acceleration of vibration within the low frequency range (1 - 1 0 Hz). A sub sequent agent accompany- ing farmers at work is agricultural dust, for which annual exposure levels exceed allowable values (A. Molocznik). The thermal environment is also unfavorable in most cases (J. Wasilkowski). Dr. Mohr showed that in Gennan agriculture the main occupational health risk is created by physical hazards. Manual handling of loads ' whole-body vibration, noise and other physical factors in association with long working hours are the cause of many occupational injuries and diseases in this section of the economy. W. Tsapko from the U- kraine emphasized the fact that in agriculture there occurs a combined action of noise and vibration exerting a synergistic effect on the human body. Mechanical factors causing mechanical traumas were discussed by K. Grzegorezyk who stressed that a high risk is created by the mobile elements of machinery and appliances, especially those elements which are not protectively covered due to the character of the occupation performed. Physical hazards may also occur during the use of agricultural machines with design, manufacture or assembly defects. (K. Kiernbalska). J. Karpowicz et al. stressed that rural popula- tions are exposed to electromagnetic fields from industrial electrical supply lines (freq. 50 Hz) and from transmitting stations with frequencies exceeding 200 kHz. In the section concerning the influence of physical factors on the human body, attention was paid to the following negative effects. o Hearing impairment development of pathologic conditions classified into so-called civilization diseases due to noise (J. Grzesik). o Systemic disorders: vascular, nervous, neuro mills, crushing mills, shredders and milking ma- chines), and workshop and construction machines (chain saws, circular saws, grinders, drills, welders and concrete mixers). K. Louhelainen stated that the number of noise-related occupational diseases recorded a- mong Finnish farmers ranged from 16 to 61. Annual exposure to noise on each Finnish farm in the study exceeded the allowable level (85 dB- A). Dr. Soplecki paid attention to another physical factor present in agriculture -- namely, vibration transmitted to the whole body with the maximum acceleration of vibration within the low-frequency range (1 - 1 0 Hz). A subsequent agent accompany- ing farmers at work is agricultural dust, for which annual exposure levels exceed allowable values (A. Molocznik). The thermal environment is also unfavorable in most cases (J. Wasilkowski). Dr. Mohr showed that in Gennan agriculture the main occupational health risk is created by physical hazards. Manual handling of loads, whole-body vibration, noise and other physical factors in association with long working hours are the cause of many occupational injuries and diseases in this section of the economy. W. Tsapko from the U- kraine emphasized the fact that in agriculture there occurs a combined action of noise and vibration exerting a synergistic effect on the human body. Mechanical factors causing mechanical traumas were discussed by K. Grzegorezyk who stressed that a high risk is created by the mobile elements of machinery and appliances, especially those elements which are not protectively covered due to the character of the occupation performed. Physical hazards may also occur during the use of agricultural machines with design, manufacture or assembly defects. (K. Klembalska). J. Karpowicz et al. stressed that rural popula- tions are exposed to electromagnetic fields from industrial electrical supply lines (freq. 50 Hz) and from transmitting stations with frequencies exceeding 200 kHz. In the section concerning the influence of physical factors on the human body, attention was paid to the following negative effects. Hearing impairment development of pathologic conditions classified into so-called civilization diseases due to noise (J. Grzesik). Systemic disorders: vascular, nervous, neuro- hormonal, digestive, reproductive, vestibulo- cochlear and locomotive organs, and changes in the lumbar section of the spine (B. Harazin). Allergic leolitis, inflammatory changes in the lungs (toxic syndrome) due to the effects of organ- ic components present in agricultural dust (Cz. Sk6ska). Unfavorable overheating of the human body in a hot thermal environment or its excessive cooling in a cold thermal environment (A. Marszalek). In the section discussing health effects as- sociated with the influence of physical factors, it was indicated that exposure to noise present in the cabins of tractors and self-propelled machines leads to a considerable hearing loss. This was statistically significantly correlated with age and the period of employment of the operators (L. Solecki). In turn, the inhalation of organic dust leads to the development of many various pathologic syn- dromes concerning the respiratory system, such as allergice alveolitis, organic dust syndrome, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and byssi- nosis (B. Mackiewicz). The consequences of mechanical factors associated with the occupation performed are pain syndromes, the extra-ardcular pans of the locomo- tive organ known as "rheumatism of soft tissues" (M. Krawczyk, P. Krawczyk). W. Jurgens and D. Mohr informed about health risks among agricultural workers and occupational diseases diagnosed in Germany (noise-related hearing impairment occupies the third position among occupational diseases diagnosed in Ger- man agriculture). In the last subject section, devoted to preven- tion, it was shown that prevention against hazard- ous effects of physical factors in the following: · Implementation of technical progress in the design of tractors and agricultural machinery (.P. Zalewski). · Use of personal means of protection (E. Kotar- binska, K. Majchrzycka, G. Bartkowiak). -Application of proper electrical installation and care of its technical condition in rural buildings (A. Boczkowski). . Application of medical prophylaxis preventing the development of occupational hearing impairment (J. Grzesik), vibration disease (B. Harazin), and diseases related to organic dust (J. Dutkie-) . Safe use of agricultural machinery (K. &ze- gorczyk). .Health promotion in accident prophylaxis (S. Lachowski). During the discussion, it was stressed that occupational hearing impainnent and vibration disease have not been registered in Poland since 1994 in the statistics of occupational diseases con- ducted by the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund. This is due to the lack of prophylactic examina- tions in this occupational group consisting of as many as 3.5 million people. The Seminar partici- pants appealed for the introduction of suitable legal solutions which would allow the covering of private farmers with prophylactic-treatrnent care on the level equivalent to recommendations by the Act Concerffing Occupational Health Serv- ice. A project for the concept of new systemic solutions in the field of private farmers' prophy- lactic health care was developed at the Institute of Agficultural Medicine in 1996. Publication of the full version of papers planned by the organizers of the Seminar will dis- seminate the contributions in this area of knowledge and familiarize the farming community with problems important from the point of view of health protection. Kiev Confab on Health and Safety in Farm Work The International Conference on Environ- mental, Occupational Health and Safety in Agd- culture on the Boundary of Two Mllenia was held in Kiev, the Ukraine, on September 8-11, 1998. The Conference was organized mainly by the Institute for Occupational Health of the Academy of Medical Sciences in Kiev under the aegis of V;HO, ILO, and IAAMM, and with the support of the highest authorities of the Republic of Ukraine. Participants in the conference discussed questions of the health status and medical care of rural population, safe use of pesticides, hygienic aspects of modem biotechnology, ergonomic pro- blems of agricultural machinery designing and questions of perfecting and harmonization of oc- cupational hygiene and labor protection legisla- tion. The chairman of the Program Committee was Prof. Yuri 1. Kundiev, one of the world's leading scientists in occupational medicine and director of the Institute for Occupational Health in Kiev since 1964. Founded in 1928, this institute always pays special attention to agricultural medicine, and many prominent Ukrainian scientists have contributed greatly to the development of this sci- entific area and are still contributing at present. The meeting was held at the "Pushcha-Ozema" sanatorium complex, a charming place located in the forest on the outskirts of Kiev. There, the participants had excellent conditions for work and relaxation, and met everywhere the friendliness and hospitality of the Ukrainian hosts. The Kiev conference was a very meaningful event for the further development of agricultural medicine. Its success was due largely to the per- fectly designed Conference program, addressing all the fundamental issues of the modem agiicul- tural medicine: health problems associated with using chemicals; noxious biological agents in agriculture; creation of safety and comfortable working conditions on agricultural machinery; health status of agricultural population; health, safety and environment legislation. These problems were presented and discussed during plenary sessions, symposiums and round- table discussion by the scientists from more than 20 countries. In the conference, about 250 partici- pants took part. One hundred and sixty scientific reports were presented, including 34 reports in the plenary session and 48 reports in the symposia. As many as 63 posters were presented. Besides this were conducted two working groups and YMO consul- tations on the subject "Good Practice in Health, Environmental and Safety Management in Agri- culture, Industry and Other Enterprises." Reports also came from the Ukrainian Minister of Health of Ukraine, head of the Committee on the Surveillance on Labor Protection and represen- tatives of ILO and "0. Noteworthy was the par- ticipation of numerous American scientists, who were actively engaged in the organization and sup- port of the Conference. The true international character of the Kiev Conference enabled the discussion of many important problems and the elaboration of recom- mendations, which made a solid basis for the progress of agricultural medicine in the third millennium. We believe that these recomrnenda- tions [presented below] will be of substantial interest to readers of the IAAMRH Journal. Recommendation The participants of the Conference "Environ- mental, Occupational Health and Safety in Agri- culture on the Boundary of Two Mllennia," repre- sentatives of ministries, departments, public or- ganizations, specialists of public health and medical sciences of Belarus Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Ire- land, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russian Fed- eration, the United States, the Ukraine, Fmnee and Switzerland together with representatives of WHO, ILO, UNEP and other International organ- izations, Being anxious because of impairment of health and living conditions of agricultural workers in many countries of the world community; Taking into account the high risk related to hard physical labor, unfavorable meteorological impacts, application of chemicals, usage of the complicated machinery aggravated in a number of countries due to consequences of the Chemobyl accident; Stating poor implementation of achievements of the scientific and technological progress into agricultural practice even in the developed coun- tries, lack of proper social protection, inefficacy of legislation on labor and poor providing of agricultural workers with medical care; Taking into consideration the Program of Action and other documents of the Conference in Rio de Janeiro (June 1992), the WHO Strategy "Health for all at the work place," the "Program on Occupational Safety and Health in Agricul- ture," Local Executive Bodies To develop and implement regional programs for improving hygiene, labor protection and safety at the enterprises of agro-industrial complexes directed at all-round maintenance of the sound way of life among the population involving the general public, mass media, representatives of religious organizations, etc., To enforce maintenance of municipal medical services in organization of medical aid for rural populations, primary health care in particular; to prevent its reduction, To assist in preservation and intensive activity of services on hygiene and labor protection at all levels, to promote organizing associations of specialists of such orientation. International Organizations For ILO -- to broaden the "Program on Occu- pational and Health in Agriculture" with due account of the requirements of countries of the Central and Eastern Europe (countries with transition economy); to create, for this purpose, an international net of institutions as well as an international consulting center (focal point) for implementation of ILO strategy in this region for coordination of efforts, developing of computer data banks on occupational morbidity and accidents in agriculture and for systematic ex- change of information between collaborating institutions. For WMO -- to adapt the strategy "Health for all at the work plac&'to conditions of agricultural production with regard to peculiarities of develop- ing countries and countries with transition econo- my. For UNEP -- to promote solving of the pro- blem of utilization of large amounts of pesticides which are unsuitable for use or are banned as persistent organic pollutants. Research Institutions To provide for harmonization of methods and approaches to health risk assessment for workers in agriculture and for risk management, To develop information activity in organiza- tion of rural health, good occupational health prac- tice and labor protection, in safety and in agricultural environment on the base of generation of the world experience. When developing programs in medical sciences at international and national levels -- to provide priority elaboration of the following.. - Studying and prediction of ecological conse- quences for health due to introduction of new technologies into agricultural production; design- ing long-term scientifically grounded prognosis in this field and providing for their publicity-, Strengthening and integration of post-registration studying the fate of chemicals in the environment and their effect in population health. Studying combined effects on health various agents of chemical, physical and biological nature. Manufacturers of agricultural products -- farmers' unions, cooperatives and other associations To provide for promotion of the knowledge in hygiene and work safety among agricultural work- ers; to control the level of such knowledge when granting licenses for manufacturing agricultural products through special training courses, pub- lishing of instructive literature and visual aids; c reation of films, relative programs for radio and television; To systematically control observance of safety regulations in application of dangerous pesticides and highly efficient agricultural machinery; to allow only experienced workers being specially trained in safety regulations to be involved in such work; to pay particular attention to providing for safety and healthy labor conditions when involv- ing women, teenagers and children in agdcul- tum works. Public (nongovernmental) organizations To systematically develop an objective public opinion about health status of the rural population on the level of regulative medical care and on th( state of hygiene and the environment, on labo: safety in agricultural production as well as on the quality and quantity of the applied measures dir- ected at their improvements To promote that the public regards priorities when developing international, national, regional and municipal programs for improvement of work and life conditions and the environment. To actively participate in training of the popu- lation in a healthy way of life and in propaganda of the knowledge about hygiene, medical ecology, labor and environment protection, in developing ecological culture of the population, to more inten- sively involve the rural population to public acti- vity, to support initiatives directed at improve- ment of rural public health, prevention of acci- dents, preservation of nature. Interesting "WHO Books Come off the presses The World Health Organization have come out with two books which it believes are of interest to members of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations with this world body. One is Health Futures -- A Handbookfor Health Professionals. This publication is the response to a recommendation from the interna- tional consultation on health futures in support of health for all conveyed by WHO in 1993. It is designed primarily to support the execu- tion of future activities in the health sector and also to serve as a general reference in the field of fu-tures and health futures, and in training. The other is "Community Involvement in Health Development: A Review of the Concept and Practice --,Public Health in Action No. 5." This new book takes a look at where the concept of Community Involvement in Health Develop- ment (C" stands today. It should be seen as an update of the concept and practice of CIH. While not a definitive statement, the book provides a guide to what CIH means and how it can be put into practice. The book will be useful to health professionals and health auxiliary staff who are striving to help local people tackle their own health problems. Cover Page Asian Region Special Lecture Topics Papers Next |