An occupational health and safety programme for crop farm workers in the mangaung district, Free State

Abstract

The occupational health and safety of South African farm workers have been largely neglected because of the emphasis specifically put on the industrial environment. Although some studies have been done on the pesticide exposures of farm workers, the occupational health and safety of farm workers have not been studied as a whole and therefore there is no comprehensive occupational health and safety programme for farm workers. The aim of the study was to compile an applicable occupational health and safety programme for crop farm workers in the Mangaung local municipal district. Twenty-five farms in this region were selected and a list that included the different activities on the farms, the number of workers on each farm and the work hours of the workers was completed. The different health and safety hazards and associated risks were identified on each of the selected crop farms. A hazard identification risk assessment (HIRA) was compiled and completed to rate the different health and safety risks. The results of the study indicated that the main activities executed on the farms were preparation and ploughing of land, planting of crops, application of pesticides and the harvesting of crops. The HIRA indicated eleven “high” risks, seven “moderate” risks and only one “low” risk. An applicable overall occupational health and safety programme that included the abovementioned “high, moderate and low” risks was compiled. Individual occupational health and safety programmes for the control of each identified hazard were designed. The suggested occupational health and safety programmes were presented to nine selected crop farm owners and/or managers as an identified focus group. They completed a questionnaire to indicate whether they found the suggested programmes feasible and acceptable. The majority indicated that the programmes were both feasible and acceptable. However, the focus group indicated that training of both farm owners/managers and farm workers in the Mangaung local municipal district is essential. The group further indicated that legislation that forces the farm owner/manager to implement occupational health and safety programmes are necessary. The designed occupational health and safety programme may thus now be implemented with applicable education and training.