Training methods and association with worker injury on Colorado dairies: a survey

The goals of this study were to define the current methods for training entry-level workers on Colorado dairies, to measure the relationship of training methods to the incidence of work-related injuries on those operations, and to characterize the nature and cause of injuries reported by participating workers. Seventy-two workers from 15 dairies from Weld, Morgan, Larimer and Yuma counties volunteered to be interviewed privately in the language of their choice. Training methods were classified by content (task training versus safety training), method of delivery (on-the-job verbal instruction, on-the-job demonstration, on-the-job supervision, classroom- based, and / or reading materials); and instructor (supervisor and/or co-worker). The majority (84.7%) of interviewed workers were Mexican-born, Spanish-speaking males. Most workers reported the training to be a combination of verbal instruction, demonstration and supervision. Twenty-nine of 72 (40.3%) of all participants suffered at least one work-related injury in the 12 months prior to the interview. Entry-level safety training had no protective effect (P = 0.463) on the reported incidence of injury in dairy workers in the previous year. However, workers that received task-related training were four times less likely to suffer a work-related injury (P = 0.008). Training conducted by a co-worker also had a significant protective effect against work-related injuries (P = 0.028). Dairy workers identified direct contact with livestock or machinery as the main cause for work-related injuries, and most injuries occurred while medicating sick cows and milking.