Labor and Health of the Farmers Growing Vegetables in a Vinyl greenhouse

Abstract

Fluctuations in fatigue attendan tupon labor of farmers growing vegetables in vinyl greenhouses were studied on farmers working in vinyl greenhouses in Tokushima prefecture in 1966 an 1967.Following conclusions were obtained: 1. The hours of labor in vinyl greenhouses and amount of work increased during the period of preparation for growing vegetables.The total hours of agricultural labor was 10.5 hours in males and 8 hours in females, with 3050 Calories consumed in a man and 2650 Calories in a woman per day.Complaints of the farmers are prominent, though the labor is only of moderate severity.Such paradox is probably due to the peculiar nature of the labor and the environment in the vinyl greenhouse.2. The load to the farmer, as seen from the viewpoint of various physiological and metabolic functions and blood findings was great at the time of transition from the outdoor work to the work inside the vinyl greenhouse and in the so-called spring farming season.The former is definitely at variance with the previous reports on the fatigue in agricultural labor.3. In the preparatory period for the growth of vegetable in the vinyl greenhouse and the period of plantation the physiological load was greater in man, while it was greater in woman during the controlling period.