Health in the workplace (part 2)

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 4, 23 June 1987, Page 8

Health in the workplace (part 2)

Farmer's wives as for all housewives are constantly exposed to health hazards during their daily work, both in and out of the home. Physical health risks include general farm hazards, tractor driving, animal contaminants and chemical poisoning. Mental stresses can arise from the isolation experienced, the lack of support and insufficient time for relaxation. Job satisfaction, too, can be negligible, due to low personal status, a. lack of rewards and no personal income which can lead to a loss of independence and individuality. Would you apply for the following position? Farmer's Wife (Grade 1) OUTLINE: This is a senior management position for which the applicant must possess outstanding organization and communication skills together with high levels of initiative, self motivation and the ability to work as part of a team. She must be able to plan and implement a wide variety of processes and programs, develop resources and strategies, and provide efficient and reliable back-up services as well as on-going

operational and administrative support - all with a minimum of supervision. Expertise in the area of industrial relations is also necessary as is the knowledge of how to handle under-age staff. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful applicant must be of sunny and gentle disposition, attractive in appearance, and capable of lifting a bag of wheat in one hand and two unshorn goat wethers in the other. She must also be able to spend at least 14 hours a day on her feet and remain patient and smiling even when the blisters have burst. Ihe applicant must be an enthusiastic early riser, summer and winter, and possess an exceptional ability to organise her time. The successful applicant in this position will find it necessary, because of time pressures, to undertake many different tasks concurrently. Thus she must possess enough motor skills and eye-hand co-ordination to be able to change a nappy, mix a batch of scones and answer the telephone - all at the same time. As well, cleanliness and neatness of workmanship are an

advantage, especially on those inevitable occasions when she will have to change a tyre while wearing tennis gear, push a car out of a bog in dinner dress and pull a calf in a nightie. QUALIFICATIONS: In order to take up this position, the successful applicant must have a thorough knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, mechanics, veterinary science, landscape gardening, interior decorating, hotel management, accountancy, law, medicine, child psychology, and diplomacy - just for starters. Other necessary skills she will acquire on-the-job. Applicants also need a fully-endorsed licence to drive a car, truck, tractor, motor bike, ride-on mower, pram and billy cart. SALARY AND REMUNERATION: Wages: none. Overtime: none. Weekend penalty rates: none. Sickness benefits: none. Holiday pay: none Long service leave: none. FRINGE BENEFITS: Despite all, amongst its practitioners, this position rates an astonishingly high level of job satisfaction. In fact, most of us wouldn't swap it for the world.