Chapman Larry J, Newenhouse Astrid C, Meyer Robert H, Taveira Alvaro D, Karsh Ben-Tzion, Ehlers Janet J, Palermo Teri
Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Appl Ergon. 2004 Jan;35(1):57-66. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2003.05.001.
We conducted an intervention to convince small, fresh market vegetable operations to adopt mesh bags and standard containers, two production practices that aid in crop handling and that are known to improve labor efficiency and reduce exposures to musculoskeletal injury hazards.
The intervention disseminated information about the practices to growers through trade publications, public events, university Extension, and growers already using the practices. A mail questionnaire was administered to vegetable growers (n=243 and 207) before and after the intervention. Strawberry growers were used as a comparison group and also received questionnaires (n=50 and 35).
After the intervention, more vegetable growers reported seeing information about mesh bags in trade publications (37% vs. 59%) and information about standard containers at public events (33% vs. 49%). Levels of self-reported adoption increased for containers (38% vs. 54%) and approached significance for bags (8% vs. 17%). Aware, non-adopting grower perceptions of bag profitability improved (2.6 vs. 3.8). Strawberry grower control results were unchanged.
Better information flow to growers may be able to increase the speed with which agricultural practices with better ergonomics are adopted, especially when the practices are more profitable.
我们开展了一项干预措施，以说服小型生鲜市场蔬菜经营商采用网眼袋和标准容器，这两种生产方式有助于作物处理，且已知能提高劳动效率并减少肌肉骨骼损伤风险暴露。
该干预措施通过贸易出版物、公共活动、大学推广服务以及已采用这些做法的种植者，向种植者传播有关这些做法的信息。在干预前后，对蔬菜种植者（n = 243和207）进行了邮寄问卷调查。草莓种植者作为对照组，也收到了问卷（n = 50和35）。
干预后，更多蔬菜种植者报告在贸易出版物中看到有关网眼袋的信息（37%对59%），在公共活动中看到有关标准容器的信息（33%对49%）。自我报告的容器采用率有所提高（38%对54%），网眼袋采用率接近显著提高（8%对17%）。意识到但未采用的种植者对袋子盈利能力的看法有所改善（2.6对3.8）。草莓种植者的对照结果没有变化。
向种植者更好地传递信息可能能够提高采用更符合人体工程学的农业做法的速度，尤其是当这些做法更有利可图时。
