Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24 ISSUE 4
Written by Mirela STANCIU, Iuliana ANTONIE, Agatha POPESCU

This article fills a gap in the international academic literature, regarding security and safety at work in sheep farms, as well as the main health problems of workers in this type of farms in Romania. The issue of safety and physical and health of sheep farm workers has been little studied in general. The issue of health and safety at work on sheep farms is presented from a multi-actor perspective, promoted within the Safe Habitus project. To identify the main needs and work risks in sheep farms, as well as the causes of workers' illnesses, qualitative research was carried out based on observations, workshops, semi-structured interviews and visits to sheep farms. The main results refer to negative experiences from current activity in sheep farms; needs of the workers; the risks of worker injury and illness and the main health problems. In the current activity of sheep farms, workers (sheep owners or employed staff) face various negative experiences related to work in variable weather conditions, waking up in the morning, early involvement of children in the farm activity, a negative image of shepherds’children. Workers in this activity sector have a large series of specific needs: increased support for small farmers, the lack of labor force, especially the qualified one, lack of identity documents of temporary workers and refusal to work in a legal framework, the distribution of communal pastures in relation to the livestock owned by breeders, lack of school education on occupational safety. The workforce on sheep farms is prone to illness due to hard work and long hours, lack of protective equipment, handling chemicals, outdate equipment and animals, living conditions and poor hygiene. The identified health problems are closely related to lifestyle: alcoholism, rheumatism, digestive problems and diseases of the spine. National and international programs and regulations are needed that also consider the social aspects of sheep farm work, as well as the introduction of farm work safety education at all levels of education.

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