The Health Challenges of Agricultural Workers

Agricultural workers are manual labourers who prepare soil, plant, cultivate and harvest crops, raise, look after, and slaughter livestock and poultry, milk animals, and often operate farm machinery. These workers are exposed to a number of potential health hazards when at work. Such hazards include, but are not limited to:
Physical:

• Sunlight
• Heat
• High humidity
• Heavy rains/ flooding
• Heavy loads
• Dust
• Loud noise
• Repetitive injuries
• Vibrations
• Unsanitary conditions
• Livestock injury hazards
• Livestock dander
• Sensitizing plants
• Vehicle hazards
• FallsElectrical wires (especially overhead)
• Insect bites
• Fires
• Sharp tools

Chemical

• Herbicides
• Insecticides
• Fungicides
• Solvents
• Ammonia
• Benzine
• Arsenic
• Fumigants
• Endotoxins
• Hydrogen sulfide
• Methane

Infectious:

• Animal infections (zoonosis)
• Leptospirosis
• Tetanus
• Toxoplasmosis
• Mold
• Mites
• Tuberculosis

Below I’ve outlined some of the health challenges associated with the agro-industry.
Injury and death: Falls from heights, or as a result of uneven ground, and hillside farming can cause significant injuries. Collapsed structures or overturned vehicles may result in crush injuries. Lacerations, puncture wounds, bone fractures, and joint dislocations are commonplace. Animal husbandry workers are exposed to animal kicks, bites, butts, and trampling. International studies have shown that between the ages of 20 and 65, on-the-job death rate of farmers is much higher when compared to most other professions

Musculoskeletal: Up to 50% of workers report chronic lower back pain. Tendonitis, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel, and spinal disc herniation are often diagnosed in agrarian workers.

Respiratory and eye: The incidence of asthma is three times the average of the general population. Respiratory tract allergies, pneumonitis, and bagassosis are pretty common. Up to 70% of farmers may have a chronic cough. Chronic bronchitis is linked to pig farming. Farmer’s lung is seen in dairy farmers. Eye irritation and injuries are often reported.

Infections: Contracting infections from animals (zoonosis) is comparatively high. These organisms enter the body via inhalation or broken skin. Puncture wounds can lead to tetanus. Leptospirosis infections are relatively high in agriculture workers. Tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis are not uncommon in farmers.

Sun & Heat: Dehydration, heat cramps, and heat stroke can occur. With advancing global warming, this is likely to become increasingly commonplace.

Infertility: Male farmers have a higher incidence of infertility as a result of exposure to ethylene dibromide and dibromochloropropane.

Mental Health: Depression, anxiety, and suicide often result from work-related stress, poor crop yields, weather extremes, and predial larceny.

Cancers: The more common cancers reported are Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcoma, leukaemias, and cancers of the brain, prostate, pancreas, skin, and stomach. Benzene, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, diesel fumes, antigenic stimulants, nitrates, fumigants, and solvents significantly contribute to such.

Neurological Diseases: Parkinson’s Disease, peripheral neuropathy, dementia, and chronic encephalopathy occur at a higher rate and are often caused by similar substances which increase the incidence of cancers.

Dermatological: Many workers suffer from irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, photodermatitis, skin cancers, sunburn, and insect bites. These result from exposure to UV rays, ammonia, fertilizers, dust, vegetable crops, mites, sensitizing plants, pesticides, and solvents.

Hearing Loss: This is a consequence of machine and motor noise.

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, c/o Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale, www.familycaresvg.com, clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300 (Office), 1(784)455-0376 (WhatsApp)
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.