Promoting Farmer occupational safety and health (OSH) services through Extension

J. McNamara¹²*, M. Fox¹², J. Kinsella² and D.O’Connor²

¹Teagasc-Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Head Office, Oak Park, R93 XE12 Carlow, Ireland
²School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
*Correspondence: john.g.mcnamara@teagasc.ie

Abstract:

Strategies for improving OSH in European agriculture are urgently required given the high level of reported injuries and ill health in the sector. The agriculture sector in Europe is enormous in scale and diverse in production systems. A dispersed labour force is deployed in the sector, predominantly using family labour, which is self-employed. Accordingly, a large proportion of the agricultural workforce is outside the scope of EU directives on occupational safety and health (OSH).The aim of this paper is to examine the role and engagement of the discipline of agricultural extension in promoting OSH in agriculture and consider methodologies that this discipline can use most effectively to gain OSH adoption. The paper compares regulatory and extension approaches to consider their respective roles in promoting OSH in agriculture. EU developments related to extension and OSH are then outlined. Regarding extension engagement, findings of a survey among extension and OSH professionals throughout Europe found that OSH is considered an important topic and worthwhile for inclusion in extension but it indicates that currently the level of extension programming is limited. Irish data on OSH extension methodologies indicates that advisors consider that a range of extension approaches are available to motivate farmers on OSH adoption with TV victim testimonials, on-farm social learning discussion groups and on-farm demonstrations having the highest preferences. Data presented indicates that Irish farmers expressed good satisfaction ratings with OSH extension relevance to their farms. Overall, the study advocates giving more consideration of the role of extension in promoting agricultural OSH.

Key words:

agriculture., ergonomics, extension, vacuum regulation

Producing the vacuum in modern drawn milking systems

M. Prikryl¹,*, P. Vaculik¹, A. Smejtkova¹, J. Hart¹ and P. Nemec²

¹Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic; *Correspondence: prikryl@tf.czu.cz
²PREDA CZ, s.r.o., U popovic 618, 393 01 Pelhřimov, Czech Republic

Abstract:

This paper deals with the measurement of the modern method of producing and regulating the vacuum in milking equipment which is currently in use. Individual measurements are primarily focused on evaluating the latest knowledge in the design, management and stabilization of the vacuum in modern milking systems. In the evaluation, emphasis was placed on economic efficiency with regard to energy consumption, environmental friendliness, high performance, operational reliability and ease of operation in the creation and control of the vacuum. The basic element of every milking system is the vacuum pump. This feature of the machine provides a vacuum for milking, milk transportation and for the activities of other devices whose task is, e.g., scanning the milking equipment or controlling movable barriers at milking parlours.
In this paper, a frequency converter was used, which is, used in milking technology for regulating and controlling the vacuum through changing the rotational speed of the vacuum pumps which do not require the use of centrifugal force to seal the working space to create a vacuum. The aim of the measurements using the above-mentioned inverter was to check the performance of the pump at different speeds and different vacuum levels to determine the actual air flow need over the milking cycle.

Key words: