Studies of Time of Farmers' Exposure to Hazardous Factors in the Working Environment on Polish Family Farms

Abstract

In order to determine human exposure to hazardous factors of the working environment it is necessary to recognize, apart from their level and intensity, the duration of exposure. This parameter is difficult to measure because of changeable exposure in agriculture, where the work cycle is prolonged to one year, and the daily working time in conditions of exposure to hazardous factors changes irregularly from one day to the next. Studies conducted on typical mixed-production family farms in Poland showed that dust and elements of the thermal environment are the most frequent factors accompanying agricultural work, followed by contact with biological hazards, noise and vibration; whereas the working time in conditions of exposure to chemical agents is the shortest.

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