The Kuopio Declaration is two years old: on 23 August 2006 the 45 participants in the Nordic Meeting on Agricultural Occupational Health agreed to sign a joint declaration in which they reported the dangers of the agricultural industry and the increase of fatal injuries in Nordic countries, while proposing a series of actions to improve the situation.
On the occasion of the second anniversary of the Declaration we interviewed Peter Lundqvist, professor at the Department of Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences at Alnarp.
Prof. Lundqvist, could you tell us how the Kuopio Declaration was conceived?
The Kuopio Declaration was the result of a number of events, such as:
- a Swedish survey (performed by our university) which showed that only 10% of all (non-fatal) injuries among farmers was reported in the official databases
- the number of fatal injuries in agriculture had increased significantly in all Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland & Norway)
- resources for preventing injuries in agriculture had decreased in Nordic countries (less resources for research, inspections, preventive measures, etc.)
- a number of articles in the media about these problems (including some written by myself).
During the Kuopio meeting I thought it would be a good idea to bring up this issue, the conference participants accepted my proposal and we wrote the Declaration together.
In August 2006 the Declaration proposed a vision for a zero fatal injury target to be reached by 2012 in Nordic countries. Do you believe this target is still attainable?
Yes, I do. But then it needs to be accepted by all partners involved: farmers, farm families, farm workers, farmers organizations, farm worker unions, the agricultural industries, authorities, research & education as well as the media. If most of them will contribute in changing attitudes among workers, improving health & safety training, etc – it will be possible. No one should die at work or at home (children or family members) due to injuries in the farm environment. The involved causes, often livestock and machinery, can be handled. We cannot prevent all injuries, but we must prevent fatal injuries! However, we need help and resources and we all need to work together!
With regard to a joint effort, you propose a farmer-driven approach to information/education, following the experience of FarmSafe in New Zealand. What are the special benefits of this approach?
We strongly believe that it is a matter of changing farmers’ attitudes so that they can change their behaviour at work. By involving farmers themselves we show them that it is their own problem and that they are an important part of the solution. All steps of such a programme need to be developed together with the farmers.
One effect of the Kuopio Declaration was the establishment of a Swedish Commission on farm accidents. Among the suggestions proposed in the report issued by the Commission, special attention was given to injury prevention for children and elderly people, two categories that are much at risk in the agricultural sector.
Yes, this is something specifically related to agriculture. Children live on a farm, it is their home, they play there and help out the adults. We have developed guidelines for parents who want their children to help out – but in a safe way!
Elderly people are active at an old age in agriculture. They are not always aware that they have hearing disorders nor that their movements are slower, or that they have less strength and longer reaction times. They must learn to avoid danger and only engage in the less strenuous and hazardous type of work. At the same time, working is good for your health – but only at the right level!
From Kuopio to Europe: what kind of advantages could be obtained at a national level from a EU-based approach to health and safety in agriculture?
It is important to learn from each other and share experiences from different countries within the EU. A joint action programme has also the advantage to be more acceptable for those people which have a negative attitude towards the programme. I also believe that we need to put in EU money as carrots. Today farmers get a lot of EU funding – but with very little or no connection to health & safety!
We are very optimistic about the chances Sweden has to invest some money from the EU rural development programme to establish a programme for improving health and safety on Swedish farms!
