The forgotten part of Health and Safety
When people think of health and safety, the focus is often on safety while health is overlooked. Michael McKeon, Teagasc Pig Specialist, discusses why looking after your health is just as important and shares some practical tips for farmers
We bring our car in for a service 2 – 3 times per year as we know it’s bad for the engine if it is not serviced regularly. However, it may often be years between our doctor visits and even then, we only go when there’s an issue.
How is the health of people in farming?
Unfortunately, not good. A large-scale study of Irish farmers by Breda Smyth has shown that farmers experience 5 times higher cardiovascular, 3 times higher cancer and 7 times higher mortality in the working age range than ‘white collar’ workers. Those involved in pig farming may be more active than the average farmer as tractor work isn’t a big element. Anecdotal evidence suggests that pig producers can often exceed 20,000 daily steps which sounds excellent for their health. However, much of this movement is done at a gradual walking pace, when moving sows, piglets etc., which often doesn’t give an elevated heart rate. In addition, the high level of daily walking is often done in wellingtons or work-boots which, due to their poor foot support, can put extra strain and wear on ankle, knee and hip joints.
Another significant health risk in pig farming is stress. Due to its cyclical financial nature, the sector often experiences periods of low/no profitability for some months. This obviously puts a great deal of pressure on the pig unit owner and staff. Often a temporary solution during these periods is to work harder and longer hours to try to achieve/maintain some level of profitability. Unfortunately, this reduces the time available to ‘switch-off’ from work in the evenings or weekends which further contributes to increased tension. Not wanting to bring the problem to the kitchen table can lead to reduced communication and further pent-up frustration. The human body can operate perfectly well with short bouts of stress, but like any engine, long sustained periods have been shown to cause ill-health, either mentally or physically.
Three simple health tips
- The biggest thing is to ‘book the body in’ for a check-up with your GP.
Your engine is much more valuable than any cars! Blood pressure and cholesterol are accurate early warning indicators. Put an annual reminder on your phone! - Ensure that all staff have proper footwear with good support.
Look at work boot soles frequently and replace at the first sign of uneven wear. This will usually be every 6 – 12 months depending on level of activity. - When the industry profitability dips again ensure that you recognise your own stress levels.
Actively build some down time into your day and continue to communicate with those around you – a problem shared is a problem halved!