Principal Investigator: Claudia Hopenhayn, MPH, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
Co-Investigator: Vijay Golla, PhD, Assistant Professor, Western Kentucky University College of Health and Human Services.

Atrazine is a herbicide widely used in production agriculture, and its potential for contamination of water supplies is a significant rural public health concern. This study will examine data from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Geological Survey, and the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics to explore the potential association between atrazine levels in drinking water and adverse birth outcomes.

Principal Investigator: Karen Arrowood, MPH

Together with Glynn Beck, MS, of the Kentucky Geological Survey, Dr. Steve Browning of the UK College of Public Health (Epidemiology), and Dr. Gail Brion of the UK Department of Civil Engineering, Ms. Arrowood is examining the relationship between rural well water quality and human health status in the Jackson Purchase Region of western Kentucky. This cross-sectional study will characterize the health status of a cohort of Kentuckians who rely on groundwater for their drinking water supplies and will combine the health effects dataset and KYGS water quality data to analyze for patterns related to levels of nitrate-N, herbicides, and bacteria.

Principal Investigator: Jessica Wilson, PhD, MSN, ARNP, Clinical Instructor, UK College of Nursing

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kentucky led the nation for ATV-related deaths from 2002-2006. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a conceptual framework, this study aims to increase knowledge of ATV prevalence and patterns of use on Kentucky farms and to identify those sub-groups whose age, environment, riding characteristics, etc., place them at high risk for ATV injury events. A random survey of farm households (N=4500) and subsequent data analysis will seek to assess the prevalence of ATVs and their utilization for work and leisure on Kentucky farms; ATV-related injuries among members of farm households; farmers’ perceived risks of operating ATVs on the farm; and associations between factors related to riding ATVs, including riding behavior, risk-taking propensity, farm type, attitudes toward ATV policy, and ATV-related injury status.

Principal Investigator: Chad Bolding, PhD, Assistant Professor, Forest Operations/Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

In order to better define safety needs in forestry and logging, this 24-month project aims to investigate timber harvesting injuries and prevention mechanisms in the southeastern United States over a 10-year period from 1996-2006. Data will be generated from injury claims compiled by multiple participating workers compensation insurance carriers. The study will build upon similar analyses conducted in 1996 and 2001 by the co-PI, Robert M. Shaffer, PhD. A new analysis of 2006 injury claims will provide an updated 5-year data point and allow for the determination of injury trends over a 10-year period. The researchers plan to conduct an analysis that attempts to correlate injury statistics with the type and frequency of logger training programs throughout the region. Currently, no data exists to define the relationship between training and reduced injury rates. This information will be a significant advancement in the field and will aid in the development of more effectively targeted training and injury prevention programs for foresters and harvesting contractors.

Principal Investigator: Giffe T. Johnson, MPH, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Center for Environmental/Occupational Risk Analysis and Management, University of South Florida

This 24-month study aims to collect pilot data on the various classes of pesticides found in biological samples provided by Florida farm workers following a day of pesticide application. The goals of this project include determining the types and concentrations of pesticides in the serum of applicators shortly after pesticide application; assessing the use of personal protective equipment among these applicators; and strengthening the relationship between the project team and the Farmworker Association of Florida. In addition, the researchers aim to evaluate the potential for using the outcomes of this line of investigation for research-to-practice programs to improve farm worker safety.

Principal Investigator: Jennifer E. Swanberg, PhD, Executive Director, Institute for Workplace Innovation, University of Kentucky

Agricultural work ranks among the most hazardous occupations in the U.S. for fatalities, injuries, and illnesses, and an increasing number of farm workers are Latino. Although some research has studied the impact of physical work-related stressors on occupational illness and injury for Latino farmworkers, few studies have included psychosocial stressors in their scope. Thus, this 12-month, cross-sectional pilot project aims (1) to delineate how work is organized in small-scale crop and horse production worksites in Central Kentucky and identify job-related health issues among Latino farmworkers employed in them; and (2) to determine which psychological stressors in small-scale crop and horse production contribute to occupational injury and illness among Latino farmworkers. Through qualitative interviews and a subsequent larger survey, the researchers will collect and analyze detailed information about the work environment, self-perceived health, and recent injury incidence among a community-based sample of Latino farmworkers in crop and horse production. Results of the study will provide preliminary data for a more comprehensive developmental project proposal.

Principal Investigator: Woojin Park, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University

Maintaining working postures over a certain amount of time can create large postural stresses, and thus may increase the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), especially in physically demanding sectors such as agricultural production, forestry, and fishing. This pilot studies aims to develop a time-saving and cost-effective analysis tool for evaluating postural stresses of various static posture holding tasks, as the foundation for larger studies of ergonomic issues and musculoskeletal stressors in farming and related fields.