Abstract: Objective: Dairy farming is a physically demanding occupation,
however, little is known about the physical demands of dairy farming tasks,
other than milking. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of
musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by dairy farmers in relation to their
work. Methods/Participants: A total of 433 dairy farmers from two
Australian states (NSW and Victoria) were invited to participate in a mail-out
survey (21% response rate, N=90), which covered musculoskeletal
discomfort, physical workload, task frequency and muscular recovery time. Results: Farmers perceived that routine tasks performed repetitively caused
more musculoskeletal discomfort than heavier tasks performed on a non-routine
or seasonal basis. Males were more likely to perform heavier manual handling
duties and tasks involving the use of machinery, whereas females performed more
routine administration work. Both men and women were exposed to similar
physical demands from the performance of a number of commonly reported and
strenuous tasks. Reduced income, lack of staffing, deregulation, and
insufficient recovery time were key factors identified by farmers to directly
or indirectly limit the reduction of musculoskeletal discomfort at work. Conclusion: Dairy farming is a diversified occupation that requires physical
demands from both male and female workers. Further research is needed to
investigate specific task demands and identify possible risk factors that may
contribute to the future development of musculoskeletal disorders.
