Tool for identifying occupational exposures and risks in agriculture (TIERRA): application in coffee farming in Uganda.

Abstract

Objectives: This study developed a practical, context-sensitive assessment tool to prioritize occupational risks in agriculture (TIERRA). We applied TIERRA in a case study with smallholder coffee farmers in Uganda (FarmCoUganda) to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Methods: TIERRA follows a stepwise, participatory process beginning with an inventory of 80 occupational hazards, reviewed by local experts for clarity and prioritized by community stakeholders through a Delphi workshop. Participants rate the likelihood, severity, and risk of hazards. In the Ugandan case study, 31 stakeholders rated 59 hazards relevant to smallholder coffee farmers in Mbale District.

Results: Stakeholders prioritized 23 hazards across six categories: biological, chemical, ergonomic, and physical hazards, each comprising three items, plus five environmental and six psychosocial hazards. "Contact with a pesticide" received the highest overall risk score. "Mosquito bites" emerged as the most significant biological risk. Ergonomic hazards received the highest categorical risk rating.

Conclusion: TIERRA fosters stakeholder ownership and facilitates dialogue toward action. It supports the development of tailored farmer surveys, training and safer working conditions. It offers a methodological blueprint for adaptation across diverse agricultural contexts, including in LMICs.