Research Engagement Changes Attitudes and Behaviours towards Agrichemical Safety in Australian Farmers

There is limited research that evaluates the effect of farmer involvement in agrichemical exposure surveillance on their attitudes and behaviour towards pesticide handling and use of personal protective equipment. This limited follow-up study aimed to (i) evaluate attitudes/behaviours towards the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among farmers who participated in the In-Field Personalised Cholinesterase Assessment Project (PCAP) (2016/17); and (ii) qualitatively assess the effect of monthly presentation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) testing results on farmer agrichemical safety practices and behaviours prior to, and following participation in PCAP.

Organophosphate exposure and the chronic effects on farmers: a narrative review

Organophosphates are a class of insecticides used globally by the agricultural industry for insect control. Acute consequences of organophosphate exposures are well known, while there has been limited research on their long-term effects. The objective of this review was to discuss the health effects of chronic organophosphate exposure in farmers.

2020-07-20: Focus On Education Programs To Help Make Farms Safer – Press Release Minister for Agriculture

Two new educational programs supported by the Victorian Government will be rolled out for rural and regional school students to start changing attitudes towards safety on farms from an early age.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today announced the programs at the beginning of National Farm Safety Week to reinforce the Government’s commitment towards reducing deaths and injuries on farms.

Kidsafe Victoria will receive a $97,000 grant to support their work preventing unintentional death and injury of children by delivering a farm safety campaign and creative competition in primary schools over three years.

The National Centre for Farmer Health will receive a $108,500 grant to deliver twenty ‘Gear up for Agriculture Health and Safety’ workshops to Victorian secondary school students who have an interest in agriculture.

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) found that children aged younger than 15 in Victoria’s outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in our major cities.

MUARC recommended addressing this problem through increased education and awareness of known injury hazards such as dams, farm equipment and off-road motorbike use.

Drowning is the leading cause of death of children on farms – providing a fenced play area away from water hazards such as dams is one example recommendation of what can be done to help make farms safer for children.

Teaching children about farms as workplaces as well as homes is a vital part of changing attitudes, with information showing children influence the decisions their parents make, in turn improving farm safety for the whole family.

These grants are part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million Victoria’s Smarter, Safer Farms program which is addressing skills and safety issues in the agriculture sector.

To find out more about the educational programs visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes

“Increasing education and awareness is crucial in order to change the culture of safety on farms – by partnering with Kidsafe Victoria and the National Centre for Farmer Health, we can do this from an early age.”

“This Farm Safety Week is a good reminder that we all have a role to play in understanding that farms are workplaces as well as homes, and how we behave on them can have significant consequences for every person who works, lives or visits one.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Workplace Safety Jill Hennessy

“The agricultural sector is overly represented in fatality statistics and helping Victorian students understand the role they play in making farms safer will make a difference now and for every person who participates in the agriculture sector over the years to come.”

View Media Release: 2020-07-20: Focus On Education Programs To Help Make Farms Safer – Press Release Minister for Agriculture

Mallee Sustainable Farming Podcast 4 – Looking after your most important farm asset | Child safety on farms

Description:

In this episode we’re talking about Child Safety on Farms!

Welcome to our episode guest speaker, Jacquie Cotton (National Centre for Farmer Health).

We discuss:

Where to start when it comes to discussing child safety on your farm.
Practical safety ideas
School Holiday farm fun – how to approach child safety topics with your family, friends and community.

Handy resources:

https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/your-industry/agriculture,-forestry-and-fishing/farming/child-safety-on-farms  

https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/children-farms

Farmer Health eNews July 2020

Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Online Ag Health Project – get involved!
• Looking after your most important farm asset – New podcast episodes out now!
• Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) unit enrollments CLOSING 10|7|20
• Wellness Wednesday

View the July 2020 eNews

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Mallee Sustainable Farming Podcast 3 – Why PPE is so important in your farming operations

Description

Mallee Sustainable Farming Podcast – The things you need to know about Q Fever and other Zoonosis diseases

Description

Mallee Sustainable Farming Podcast – Health Planning with Morna Semmens

Description

Farmer Health eNews June 2020

Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Men’s Health Week 2020
• Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) unit enrollments & Scholarships CLOSING 7/6/20
• COVID-19 you and the farm
• Wellness Wednesday

View the June 2020 eNews

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2020-05-27: VirtuAg: Checking in on farmers’ health – The Weekly Times

by Cameron McGavin

This regional Victoria-based partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University has been delivering health services, research, training and education to farming communities since 2008.

In that time it has engaged with more than 5000 farm men, women, agricultural workers and their families.

The NCFH website Farmer Health offers a wealth of information, resources and support, from health and safety factsheets to online psychology services.

It also features the new Coronavirus (COVID-19): you and the farm resource, which includes links and information to help farmers navigate the COVID-19 crisis, as well as videos showing how some are instigating their own COVID-19 farm plans.

“There’s a lot of information out there about COVID-19,” said NCFH business development and industry engagement manager Cecilia Fitzgerald.

“We’ve just tried to tailor it and make it relevant to the farming population.

“It’s all about providing support when they’re going through a tough time — whether it’s COVID-19 or bushfire or drought, the same principles apply.”

The NCFH is proud to be part of VirtuAg and help farming communities stay connected through COVID-19.

“We’ve had a lot of field days cancelled this year due to COVID-19, so it’s great to have this opportunity to maintain our presence when we can’t be physically there and provide some of the information and support farming communities are needing at the moment,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

View full article: 2020-05-27: VirtuAg: Checking in on farmers’ health – The Weekly Times

Men’s health in agricultural settings

Rural and remote Australians generally report higher levels of community participation, connection and volunteering than urban communities. Connecting with others, helps reduce isolation and has been shown to improve health. Rural men are often the first to help others but often find it difficult to accept help themselves.

However, men who live in rural and regional areas of Australia have a lower life expectancy than other men. They are also more likely to  experience poor mental health and  have higher rates of suicide. There are also numerous occupational and environmental hazards on farms. For example, mobile machinery and equipment, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, livestock, extreme weather events, high sun exposure, tractors and vehicles such as motorbikes and quadbikes. Many of these hazards contribute to injuries on farms and increase rates of accidental death for males working in agricultural settings.  Farming men have a higher proportion of injuries than females on farms, particularly for injuries involving motorbikes and quadbikes. Riding with a helmet and having roll over protection on Quad bikes can reduce death and injury.

Health conditions that reduce the quality of men’s lives.

Men also experience a range of health conditions that reduce the quality of their life.

Leukaemia and testicular cancer have been listed as the most common cancers in males aged under 35 while melanoma of the skin, prostate cancer and bowel cancer were the most common cancers in men aged over 35 years of age.

Men living and working in remote areas, also experience a greater burden of disease with coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hearing loss and lung cancer playing a key role.

There are many occupational risks in agriculture that can contribute to such diseases. (For example, hot, dry conditions that can lead to dehydration, exposure to dust and chemicals can reduce lung function, UV for skin cancers, noise induced hearing loss). Working safely requires constant checking and planning to identify and reduce risks and stay healthy.

How rural men access health support

Rural men are often depicted as tough, capable, and self- reliant. These attitudes and ideas about masculinity can make it hard for men to acknowledge when they are not doing so well, which is the last thing you want when you need help. Because  men are less likely than women to take an active role in maintaining their health they often have difficulty locating and connecting with health services.  When they do visit a doctor, they tend to have shorter visits and only go when the condition is actually stopping them from working due to pain or dysfunction.

Because men are less likely to visit a doctor, they are less likely to engage in health checkups and sadly more likely to die of preventable diseases.

Good news:  Have a men’s health checkup.

Regular health checkups, including for male specific cancers (testicular and prostate) can help to improve the physical and mental health of rural men, their quality of their life, and their life expectancy.

Testicular cancer is not common but early diagnosis and treatment can cure almost all cases.

It is important for rural men to discuss their individual risk for prostate cancer with their doctor and to participate in bowel and skin screening regularly.

Health checkups for the conditions that are common in rural men might also include, heart health, kidney health, diabetes, anxiety and depression, eyesight.  Early diagnosis could improve, or even save your life!

Rural Men and Alcohol

Research indicates that both farming men and women are more likely to consume alcohol at short-term risky levels when compared to the general Australian population. There is a strong link between high risk drinking depression and suicide. Excessive drinking also affects judgement which can increase the risk of farm accidents, vehicle accidents  and other injury.

Fertility

Alcohol and smoking can affect sex drive, erectile function, sperm quality and fertility. They can also affect the health of unborn children. Each stage of the reproductive process is affected by the toxins in tobacco.

If you are thinking about reducing alcohol consumption or smoking, help is available.  It’s not easy but it’s not impossible!

Recent studies have shown a link between agrichemical usage and a range of health problems including fertility. Pesticide exposure may also increase the risk of birth defects and fetal growth retardation.

The positives for Rural Men’s Health!

Rural and remote Australians generally report higher levels of community participation, connection and volunteering than urban communities. Connecting with others, helps reduce isolation and has been shown to improve health. Rural men are often the first to help others but often find it difficult to accept help themselves. Celebrate “Mens’ Health Week 2020” 15-21 June, by helping yourself and helping other men. “WORKING TOGETHER FOR MEN’S HEALTH!”

Fast facts:

• Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It’s courageous!
• Smoking, alcohol and agrichemicals can all affect men’s fertility.
• Farm Safety Audits help identify and reduce occupational and environmental risks on farms.
• Regular checkups can improve the quality of men’s lives and their survival.

Farmer Health eNews May 2020

Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Primary Producer Knowledge Network (PPKN) – Join our network (EOI close 11/5/20)
• Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) unit enrollments & Scholarships now open
• Online Psychology Service
• Wellness Wednesday

View the May 2020 eNews

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