Equipment Dealers’Perceptions of a Community-based Rollover Protective Structures Promotion Campaign

Farming is one of the most hazardous occupations, and tractor overturns are the leading cause of agricultural fatalities. This article examines a community-based injury intervention designed to increase the number of rollover protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts on tractors and to promote safe operation of farm tractors in two counties. Equipment dealers who sell retrofit ROPS kits to farmers were a critical component of the intervention. Interviews were conducted with dealers after the 31-month intervention period to understand their perceptions, any difficulties they experienced as a result of the project and how a similar project could be improved. Comments were analyzed in relation to theories of persuasion. Results indicated that dealers believed the intervention was successful in producing behavior change among some farmers. Dealers also provided important insights into why some farmers continued to resist retrofitting tractors with ROPS. Recommendations are offered for designers of community-based interventions beyond the ROPS project described here

Health, environment and working conditions in tobacco cultivation: a review of the literature Saúde, ambiente e condições de trabalho no cultivo de tabaco: revisão de literatura

This study presents a review of the literature published between 1979 and 2010 on health and working conditions in tobacco cultivation, with particular emphasis on the Brazilian context. A review of computerized databases (PubMed, Scopus, WilsonWeb and Bireme/PAHO Virtual Health Library - Public Health) was carried out using the following search terms: tobacco, agricultural worker health, agricultural worker disease, working conditions, unsafe working conditions, occupational risk, occupational disease, and labor force. Articles published in English, Spanish and Portuguese were analyzed. Thirty-seven articles were selected from 214 references that were initially identified. Thirty-four additional publications (reports, etc.) were also analyzed. Among the many effects described in the literature, especially noteworthy are "green tobacco sickness," respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, mental disorders, and a negative environmental impact. Very few studies have been carried out in Brazil.<br>Este estudo propõe uma revisão da literatura científica publicada entre 1979 e 2010, sobre condições de trabalho no cultivo do tabaco, como ênfase particular no contexto brasileiro. Foi realizada revisão de literatura com consulta às bases de dados Pubmed, Scopus, Wilson Web e BVS - Saúde Pública (Bireme OPAS). Os descritores utilizados foram: tabaco, saúde do trabalhador rural, doença dos trabalhadores agrícolas, condições de trabalho, condições inseguras no trabalho, doenças do trabalho e força de trabalho. Foram selecionados artigos publicados em inglês, espanhol e português. Trinta e sete artigos foram selecionados a partir de 214 referências que foram inicialmente identificados. Trinta e quatro outras publicações (relatórios técnico, livros e outros) também foram analisadas. Entre os muitos efeitos descritos na literatura, destaca-se "doença da folha do tabaco verde", distúrbios respiratórios, lesões músculo-esqueléticas, doenças mentais, e um impacto negativo relacionado ao meio ambiente. No Brasil poucos estudos têm sido realizados sobre este tema