Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the relation between pesticide exposure and safety management levels of farmers by farming type in South Korea. This study is carried out based on data obtained from the 15 Korean farmers’ occupational disease and injury survey (KFODIS) in 2013. In terms of pesticide exposure, measured using the number of cultivated pesticides, the number of pesticide application per year, and the time of spraying per day, values obtained were higher or similar in males than in females. On the other hand, pesticide exposure was statistically higher in rice fields and dry field farming. Effort score of following safety rules in spraying pesticide by farming type were measured for most items, and the score of wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) differed among men and women. For pesticide exposure levels and safety management levels, the greater pesticide exposure levels in men resulted in lower effort scores of keeping safety rules in rice fields and dry field farming such as wearing PPE. This is similar in the case of women wherein the effort score of adhering to safety rules and the score of wearing PPE were also low. In conclusion, the farmers in the rice and dry field farming show low safety management level compared with farmers in paddy field farming. Therefore, farmers should be educated about the necessity of wearing protective equipment to prevent pesticide poisoning. Results of the study can be used in formulating policy and business direction to prevent health impairment caused by pesticide exposure to farmers.
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