Work Safety of Release Workers on Farms-an Analysis of a Release-Worker Provision Ring

Abstract

Due to the recent restracturing development in agriculture in Finland, the number of keeping cattle, as well as the number of agricultural release workers has diminished. The number of occupational injuries and illnesses involving release workers has, however, remained unchanged. In this case study the farmers and release workers in one municipality were asked as to what obstacles and preconditions they felt there were as regards the improvement of work safety of release workers on the farms. The main points raised were the following: (i) when a release worker arrives on the farm enough time should be set aside for induction, (ii) the need for feedback discussion between the release worker and the farmer at the end of the job, (iii) the costs of remedial measures, and (iv) the question of farmers getting so used to the shortcomings on their farm that they become blind to them. The centralisation of the release-worker provision activity to rings formed by neighbouring farms reduced the risk of injuries as then the working conditions on the farms became familiar to the release worker.