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Ornelas Van Horne Y, Johnston JE, Barahona DD, Razafy M, Kamai EM, Ruiz BC, Eckel SP, Bejarano E, Olmedo L, Farzan SF. Exposure to agricultural pesticides and wheezing among 5-12-year-old children in the Imperial Valley, CA, USA. Environ Epidemiol 2024; 8:e325. [PMID: 39165346 PMCID: PMC11335338 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. Methods We leveraged the Children's Assessing Imperial Valley Respiratory Health and the Environment cohort located in the rural community of Imperial Valley near the US-Mexico border. We calculated the kilograms of total pesticides applied within 400 m of children's residential addresses for the years 2016-2020. Estimated pesticide usage near homes was categorized into three groups (none vs. low vs. high [split at the median]). All health variables (i.e., asthma status and wheezing) were derived from a parent-reported questionnaire on respiratory health. We used generalized linear models, controlling for child sex, the language of survey, health insurance, respondents' highest education, and exposure to environmental secondhand smoking, to calculate prevalence differences between none versus low and high exposure to agricultural pesticides. Results Approximately 62% of the 708 children (aged 5-12 years) lived within 400 m of at least one pesticide application within 12 months prior to survey administration. Exposure to pesticides within 400 m of children's residences was associated with 12-month prior wheeze. Those in the "high" exposure group had a prevalence of wheezing that was 10 (95% confidence interval: 2%, 17%) percentage points higher than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. Associations for high exposure to specific categories of pesticide applications, sulfur only, all pesticides except sulfur, chlorpyrifos, and glyphosate, also were observed with a higher prevalence of wheezing than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. Conclusions We observed associations between living near pesticide applications and more wheeze symptoms among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, New York
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jill E. Johnston
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Dayane Duenas Barahona
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mitiasoa Razafy
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Elizabeth M. Kamai
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Brandyn C. Ruiz
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sandrah P. Eckel
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Luis Olmedo
- Comite Civico Del Valle, Brawley, California
| | - Shohreh F. Farzan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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Cofie LE, LePrevost CE, Harwell EL, Bustos YY, Welborn J, Firnhaber GC, Lee JGL. "Valorar el trabajo de farmworkers": A thematic analysis of input from farmworkers, advocates, and students in a community documentary project about the future of farm work. Public Health Nurs 2024; 41:193-197. [PMID: 37994294 PMCID: PMC11288523 DOI: 10.1111/phn.13263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Farm work is one of the nation's most hazardous occupations, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers face significant health inequities. Awareness and understanding of the needs of this population are crucial in assuring they receive appropriate support. Documentary programs can raise awareness of community member views to better inform services and advocacy efforts. Visions for the future of farm work were collected from farmworkers and persons supporting them through a community-based, participatory documentary project led by Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) from 2021 to 2022. Seventy-nine submissions from participants in North and South Carolina, including text responses and file uploads, were collected and thematically analyzed. Five themes were identified: (1) employment benefits and conditions, (2) living conditions, (3) health access and quality, (4) dignity and visibility of farm work, and (5) policy change for a better future. The visions for the future of farm work expressed by these agricultural workers, advocates, and students raise important implications for agricultural communities, public health practitioners, researchers, funders, and policymakers. Application of these findings in the development and delivery of public health services for farmworkers has the potential to positively impact the morbidity and mortality rates of this at-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie E. Cofie
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Emery L. Harwell
- Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Joanna Welborn
- Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gina C. Firnhaber
- College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph G. L. Lee
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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3
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Layne LA, Siordia C. Hired crop worker injury risks on farms in the United States during three different periods between 2002 and 2015. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:224-242. [PMID: 38270234 PMCID: PMC10961608 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hired crop workers have high incidence of work-related injuries, but little has been documented about potential risks at the national level. METHODS Data were obtained from a national probability sample of hired crop workers in the United States (U.S.) during 2002-2004 (period I), 2008-2010 (period II), and 2014-2015 (period III). Multivariable logistic regression models of work-related injury were constructed using an occupational exposure adjustment for weeks worked in the previous year. RESULTS Hired crop workers reporting that their employer did not provide clean drinking water and disposable cups every day were estimated to be at greater odds of injury during all three periods. Having at least some English-speaking ability was associated with increased odds of injury in two periods, while owning a dwelling in the U.S. showed greater injury risk during period II but was associated with lower risk during period III. Other items significantly associated with injury during at least one of the study periods in the final multivariable logistic models included being a direct-hire, a migrant worker, U.S.-born, receiving public aid, and having a health condition. CONCLUSIONS Hired crop workers are an extremely marginalized population of workers in the U.S. Innovative intervention methods must extend beyond traditional occupational models to focus on the overall health of hired crop workers, including increasing healthcare access, ending agricultural exceptionalism to provide equal regulatory protections afforded to workers in other industries, and adequate enforcement of existing regulations. These findings contribute to the understanding of correlates related to increased work-related injury among hired crop workers, and have implications in fields of prevention, intervention, and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry A. Layne
- Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Carlos Siordia
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office of Program Management and Operations, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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4
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Parra KL, Harris RB, Farland LV, Beamer P, Furlong M. Associations of Prenatal Agricultural Farm Work with Fetal Overgrowth and Pregnancy Complications in State of Arizona Birth Records. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:635-642. [PMID: 37167931 PMCID: PMC10523987 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to examine fetal growth outcomes from agricultural worker households. METHODS Using Arizona 2006 to 2013 birth certificates with parental occupation, we identified N = 623,185 live births by agricultural household status. Logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for macrosomia (>4000 g), postterm birth (>41 weeks), low birth weight (<2500 g), preterm birth (<37 weeks), large for GA, small for GA, and 5-minute APGAR (<7). RESULTS Newborns of agricultural households (n = 6371) had a higher risk of macrosomia (aOR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.26), large for GA (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.22), postterm birth (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.09-1.33), and low 5-minute APGAR (aOR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.81), whereas low birth weight (aOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96) and preterm birth (aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.92) were inversely related. CONCLUSIONS Having an agriculture working parent increased the likelihood of fetal overgrowth and low APGAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly L. Parra
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Robin B. Harris
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Leslie V. Farland
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine-Tucson, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Paloma Beamer
- Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Melissa Furlong
- Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Pagán-Santana M, Liebman AK, Seda CH. Deepening the Divide: Health Inequities and Climate Change among Farmworkers. J Agromedicine 2023; 28:57-60. [PMID: 36384449 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2022.2148034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Climate change amplifies social inequities, disproportionately impacting the health and well-being of populations already vulnerable to social risk factors associated with race, ethnicity, immigration status, and occupation. Recent hurricanes, extreme temperatures, wildfires, and droughts have directly impacted vulnerable populations, including farmworkers in the US and its territories. Understanding how systems increase poor health outcomes for farmworkers is important to create solutions that are practical, feasible, and sustainable. In this commentary, we discuss a framework to assess the climate crisis and its impact on farmworkers. Although environmental stressors impact all populations, the difference in the systems or structures surrounding individuals can increase the risks and diseases of vulnerable populations when responding to the effects of the climate crisis. This framework presents policies and systems that could be limiting for agricultural workers when exposed to environmental stressors and the direct or indirect consequences of not addressing them.
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Hayden MA, Barim MS, Weaver DL, Elliott KC, Flynn MA, Lincoln JM. Occupational Safety and Health with Technological Developments in Livestock Farms: A Literature Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16440. [PMID: 36554320 PMCID: PMC9778243 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, there have been considerable technological developments in the agriculture sector to automate manual processes for many factors, including increased production demand and in response to labor shortages/costs. We conducted a review of the literature to summarize the key advances from installing emerging technology and studies on robotics and automation to improve agricultural practices. The main objective of this review was to survey the scientific literature to identify the uses of these new technologies in agricultural practices focusing on new or reduced occupational safety risks affecting agriculture workers. We screened 3248 articles with the following criteria: (1) relevance of the title and abstract with occupational safety and health; (2) agriculture technologies/applications that were available in the United States; (3) written in English; and (4) published 2015-2020. We found 624 articles on crops and harvesting and 80 articles on livestock farming related to robotics and automated systems. Within livestock farming, most (78%) articles identified were related to dairy farms, and 56% of the articles indicated these farms were using robotics routinely. However, our review revealed gaps in how the technology has been evaluated to show the benefits or potential hazards to the safety and well-being of livestock owners/operators and workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie A. Hayden
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45213, USA
| | - Menekse S. Barim
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45213, USA
| | - Darlene L. Weaver
- Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - K. C. Elliott
- Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Michael A. Flynn
- Division of Science Integration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Lincoln
- Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45213, USA
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7
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Elliott KC, Lincoln JM, Flynn MA, Levin JL, Smidt M, Dzugan J, Ramos AK. Working hours, sleep, and fatigue in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector: A scoping review. Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:898-912. [PMID: 35880742 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry (AgFF) workers often work extremely long hours during peak production seasons, resulting in sleep deprivation and fatigue. The National Occupational Research Agenda has classified fatigue as a "significant safety issue" and area of concern for many industry sectors, including AgFF. This review explores current research and practice in AgFF and proposes next steps. METHODS We conducted a scoping literature review to examine the extent and nature of research in this area. Article inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed journal articles written in English; published after 1989; covering AgFF workers in high-income countries; with data on working hours/schedules and sleep related to safety and health. RESULTS Limited research has addressed long hours and sleep deprivation among AgFF workers. We identified 8350 articles for title and abstract review. Among those, 407 underwent full-text review and 96 met all inclusion criteria (67% agriculture, 25% fishing/seafood processing, 8% forestry). The literature provided some evidence fatigue contributes to fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in AgFF. Older, new, young, foreign-born, and female workers, as well as those who work in small organizations or longer hours (40+) may be at higher risk for fatigue-related injury and illness. Few studies have developed or evaluated interventions to control risks. DISCUSSION Given that fatigue is a factor in injury and illness for this sector, future AgFF surveillance and research should increase efforts to capture fatigue and sleep data, directly investigate the role of long hours and nonstandard work schedules in the sector, and most importantly, create practical interventions to manage fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Elliott
- Office of Agriculture Safety and Health, Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer M Lincoln
- Office of Agriculture Safety and Health, Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael A Flynn
- Division of Science Integration, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Levin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | - Mathew Smidt
- Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Jerry Dzugan
- Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, Sitka, Alaska, USA
| | - Athena K Ramos
- Department of Health Promotion, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Donley N, Bullard RD, Economos J, Figueroa I, Lee J, Liebman AK, Martinez DN, Shafiei F. Pesticides and environmental injustice in the USA: root causes, current regulatory reinforcement and a path forward. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:708. [PMID: 35436924 PMCID: PMC9017009 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13057-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many environmental pollutants are known to have disproportionate effects on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) as well as communities of low-income and wealth. The reasons for these disproportionate effects are complex and involve hundreds of years of systematic oppression kept in place through structural racism and classism in the USA. Here we analyze the available literature and existing datasets to determine the extent to which disparities in exposure and harm exist for one of the most widespread pollutants in the world – pesticides. Our objective was to identify and discuss not only the historical injustices that have led to these disparities, but also the current laws, policies and regulatory practices that perpetuate them to this day with the ultimate goal of proposing achievable solutions. Disparities in exposures and harms from pesticides are widespread, impacting BIPOC and low-income communities in both rural and urban settings and occurring throughout the entire lifecycle of the pesticide from production to end-use. These disparities are being perpetuated by current laws and regulations through 1) a pesticide safety double standard, 2) inadequate worker protections, and 3) export of dangerous pesticides to developing countries. Racial, ethnic and income disparities are also maintained through policies and regulatory practices that 4) fail to implement environmental justice Executive Orders, 5) fail to account for unintended pesticide use or provide adequate training and support, 6) fail to effectively monitor and follow-up with vulnerable communities post-approval, and 7) fail to implement essential protections for children. Here we’ve identified federal laws, regulations, policies, and practices that allow for disparities in pesticide exposure and harm to remain entrenched in everyday life for environmental justice communities. This is not simply a pesticides issue, but a broader public health and civil rights issue. The true fix is to shift the USA to a more just system based on the Precautionary Principle to prevent harmful pollution exposure to everyone, regardless of skin tone or income. However, there are actions that can be taken within our existing framework in the short term to make our unjust regulatory system work better for everyone.
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9
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Bloss JE, LePrevost CE, Zahra AG, Firnhaber GC, Cofie LE, Zepeda R, Lee JGL. Advancing the Health of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the United States: Identifying Gaps in the Existing Literature, 2021. Health Promot Pract 2021; 23:432-444. [PMID: 34549654 PMCID: PMC9096586 DOI: 10.1177/15248399211033308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
There are profound health inequities for agricultural workers. We sought to assess the literature on migrant and seasonal farmworker health with an eye toward health promotion interventions, special populations, use of community health workers (CHWs), and technology. We conducted a systematic mapping review by searching five databases in March 2021. Using quantitative content analysis after establishing interrater reliability, we coded titles and abstracts to assess 13 topics and six characteristics of the research such as its focus on health promotion, use of technology, and inclusion of CHWs. We identified 1,083 records. Just 8.2% of records described or evaluated a health promotion effort to intervene in farmworker well-being and even fewer (4.2%) examined unique populations of farmworkers such as indigenous farmworkers (n = 11) or sexual minority farmworkers (n = 1). A small body of literature focused on the role of CHWs or promotores most frequently described their role in implementing health interventions. The literature on farmworker health has gaps regarding health promotion interventions, special populations, and integration of CHWs into research projects. We offer suggestions to fill in identified gaps in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine E LePrevost
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.,North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, Greenville, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ramón Zepeda
- Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, NC, USA
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10
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Drydakis N. Adverse working conditions and immigrants' physical health and depression outcomes: a longitudinal study in Greece. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2021; 95:539-556. [PMID: 34490499 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01757-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Τhe study examines whether adverse working conditions for immigrants in Greece bear an association with deteriorated physical health and increased levels of depression during 2018 and 2019. METHODS A panel dataset resulted from the collaboration with centers providing free Greek language courses to immigrant population groups. Random Effects models assess the determinants of physical health and depression. RESULTS Findings indicate that workers with no written contract of employment, receiving hourly wages lower than the national hourly minimum wages, and experiencing insults and/or threats in their present job experience worse physical health and increased levels of depression. Moreover, the study found that the inexistence of workplace contracts, underpayment, and verbal abuse in the workplace may coexist. An increased risk of underpayment and verbal abuse reveals itself when workers do not have a contract of employment and vice versa. CONCLUSION Immigrant workers without a job contract might experience a high degree of workplace precariousness and exclusion from health benefits and insurance. Immigrant workers receiving a wage lower than the corresponding minimum potentially do not secure a living income, resulting in unmet needs and low investments in health. Workplace abuse might correspond with vulnerability related to humiliating treatment. These conditions can negatively impact workers' physical health and foster depression. Policies should promote written employment contracts and ensure a mechanism for workers to register violations of fair practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Drydakis
- Faculty of Business and Law, School of Economics, Finance and Law, Centre for Pluralist Economics, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK.
- Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Institute for the Study of Labor, Bonn, Germany.
- Global Labor Organization, Essen, Germany.
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11
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Santiago KM, Louzado‐Feliciano P, Baum J, Bakali U, Caban‐Martinez AJ. Self-reported and objectively measured occupational exposures, health, and safety concerns among fishermen: A cross-sectional Fishing Industry Safety and Health (FISH) pilot study. Am J Ind Med 2021; 64:58-69. [PMID: 33155709 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fishing industry workers are exposed to hazardous working conditions, engage in strenuous labor, and work long hours in variable weather conditions. Despite these known employment challenges, little is known of their perceived occupational health and safety concerns. In this pilot study, we: (1) describe fishermen's perceptions on worker- and organizational-level characteristics that impact occupational health and safety; and (2) estimate environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) encountered during fishing activities. METHODS We collected both qualitative and quantitative data from Mississippi and Florida fishermen. Using an ethnographic approach, the study team conducted 1-h key informant interviews, administered a one-page demographic survey, and collected objective measurements to PAHs using silicone-based passive sampling wristbands. RESULTS Study participants (n = 17) had a mean age of 50.9 years (SD = 11.7), 88.2% were male, 94.1% white, 100.0% non-Hispanic/Latino, and 52.9% were married. Approximately, 87.5% reported fishing as their primary job, with a mean of 26.4 years in the industry (SD = 15.3). Four broad themes describing the culture of the fishing industry, common workplace exposures that impact fishermen's safety and health, and facilitators and barriers to safety while working in the fishing industry were documented. Deckhands had the lowest mean exposure to PAHs (8.3 ppb), followed by crew members (11.0 ppb), captains (82.64 ppb), and net makers (208.1 ppb). CONCLUSIONS Gulf coast fishermen expressed specific occupational health and safety concerns and were exposed to carcinogenic PAHs during regular work. Opportunities exist and strategies are needed for health protection and health promotion interventions among Gulf fishermen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina M. Santiago
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami Florida USA
| | - Paola Louzado‐Feliciano
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami Florida USA
| | - Jeramy Baum
- Department of Chemistry, Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami Florida USA
| | - Umer Bakali
- Department of Chemistry, Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami Florida USA
| | - Alberto J. Caban‐Martinez
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami Florida USA
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Tigchelaar M, Battisti DS, Spector JT. Work Adaptations Insufficient to Address Growing Heat Risk for U.S. Agricultural Workers. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS : ERL [WEB SITE] 2020; 15:094035. [PMID: 33133229 PMCID: PMC7594196 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab86f4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The over one million agricultural workers in the United States (U.S.) are amongst the populations most vulnerable to the health impacts of extreme heat. Climate change will further increase this vulnerability. Here we estimate the magnitude and spatial patterns of the growing heat exposure and health risk faced by U.S. crop workers and assess the effect of workplace adaptations on mitigating that risk. We find that the average number of days spent working in unsafe conditions will double by mid-century, and, without mitigation, triple by the end of it. Increases in rest time and the availability of climate-controlled recovery areas can eliminate this risk but could affect farm productivity, farm worker earnings, and/or labor costs much more than alternative measures. Safeguarding the health and well-being of U.S. crop workers will therefore require systemic change beyond the worker and workplace level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Tigchelaar
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- now at: Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - David S. Battisti
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - June T. Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Abstract
The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on farmworker communities has been well documented by the media. The virus overlays existing health disparities among farmworkers, but the population is not homogenous. One group of workers that may be even more vulnerable to the transmission of COVID-19 is the H-2A temporary worker population, because they have less control over their physical environments than domestic farmworkers, who may obtain their own housing and transportation. The H-2A program was recently altered at the federal level to ensure a steady flow of essential workers that can protect the nation's food supply during a crisis. Yet, in spite of increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in states with significant H-2A worker populations, the federal rule that temporarily expanded the H-2A program did not address needs to protect workers' health. Although the CDC has developed recommendations for the agricultural industry to safeguard against COVID-19, most health and safety regulation for farmworkers are left to state and local agencies that may lack knowledge or resources to effectively address the needs of a specialized growing workforce such as H-2A workers. More research is needed on the disparate health and safety needs of H-2A workers to assess how policy can be tailored to reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus among the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Flocks
- Center for Governmental Responsibility, Levin College of Law, University of Florida , Gainesville, USA
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14
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Premji S. Discourse on culture in research on immigrant and migrant workers' health. Am J Ind Med 2019; 62:460-470. [PMID: 31111524 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health and safety researchers and practitioners have proposed that cultural differences help explain inequalities between foreign and native-born workers. While cultural explanations for inequalities have long been debated in other fields, there exists little critique of cultural discourses in occupational health. METHODS This article examines and discusses the discourse on culture in 107 articles on immigrant or migrant workers' health published between 2011 and 2015. For each article, passages on culture were identified and analysed for both the context and the manner in which culture was discussed. RESULTS The discourse on culture was found to be generally simplistic, individualistic, and uncritical, intentionally or unintentionally supporting the worldview that workers' "otherness" is both cause of inequalities and target for interventions. CONCLUSION The article argues that empirical, theoretical and interdisciplinary work is needed to document the mechanisms and pathways that underlie health and safety inequalities by foreign-born status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Premji
- School of Labour Studies, Department of Health, Aging and SocietyMcMaster UniversityHamilton Ontario Canada
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15
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Riester SM, Leniek KL, Niece AD, Montoya-Barthelemy A, Wilson W, Sellman J, Anderson PJ, Bannister EL, Bovard RS, Kilbride KA, Koos KM, Kim H, McKinney ZJ, Abrar FA. Occupational medicine clinical practice data reveal increased injury rates among Hispanic workers. Am J Ind Med 2019; 62:309-316. [PMID: 30697792 PMCID: PMC6590790 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Minnesota has an ethnically diverse labor force, with the largest number of refugees per capita in the United States. In recent years, Minnesota has been and continues to be a major site for immigrant and refugee resettlement in the United States, with a large population of both immigrant and native born Hmong, Hispanic, and East Africans. This study seeks to evaluate the injury risk among the evolving minority workforce in the Minnesota Twin Cities region. Methods A retrospective cohort study identifying work‐related injuries following pre‐employment examinations was performed using electronic health records from a large multi‐clinic occupational medicine practice. Preplacement examinations and subsequent work‐related injuries were pulled from the electronic health record using representative ICD‐10 codes for surveillance examinations and injuries. This study included patient records collected over a 2‐year period from January 1, 2015, through December, 2016. The patients in this cohort worked in a wide‐array of occupations including production, assembly, construction, law enforcement, among others. Results Hispanic minority workers were twice as likely to be injured at work compared with White workers. Hispanics were 2.89 times more likely to develop back injuries compared with non‐Hispanic workers, and 1.86 times more likely to develop upper extremity injuries involving the hand, wrist, or elbow. Conclusion Clinical practice data shows that Hispanic workers are at increased risk for work‐related injuries in Minnesota. They were especially susceptible to back and upper extremity injuries. Lower injury rates in non‐Hispanic minority workers, may be the result of injury underreporting and require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M. Riester
- HealthPartners; St Paul Minnesota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
- Mayo Clinic; Rochester Minnesota
| | | | | | - Andre Montoya-Barthelemy
- HealthPartners; St Paul Minnesota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
| | - William Wilson
- HealthPartners; St Paul Minnesota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
| | - Jonathan Sellman
- HealthPartners; St Paul Minnesota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
| | | | | | - Ralph S. Bovard
- HealthPartners; St Paul Minnesota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
| | | | | | - Hyun Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
| | - Zeke J. McKinney
- HealthPartners; St Paul Minnesota
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota
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16
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Ramos AK. A Human Rights-Based Approach to Farmworker Health: An Overarching Framework to Address the Social Determinants of Health. J Agromedicine 2019; 23:25-31. [PMID: 28949873 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2017.1384419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Migrant and seasonal workers have a right to the highest attainable standard of health. Unfortunately, these farmworkers face a multitude of challenges. They are employed in one of the most dangerous industries and face serious occupational health risks, while positioned at the bottom of the social hierarchy. They often lack formal education and training, English language proficiency, legal status, access to information, and equitable opportunities to health and healthcare. This article will explore the international human rights conventions that support farmworkers' right to health and healthcare in the United States. International human rights may provide a valuable legal framework that could be used to advocate on behalf of farmworkers and address the social determinants of health. Therefore, a Human Rights-Based Approach to Farmworker health will be presented along with recommendations for how to advance health and access to healthcare among this population. Fostering the health and well-being of migrant and seasonal farmworkers is critical to advancing equity, social justice, and maintaining the workforce required to meet production needs and safeguard the economic competitiveness of the industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena K Ramos
- a Center for Reducing Health Disparities , University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha , Nebraska , USA
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17
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Abstract
The term "ag-gag" refers to state laws that intentionally limit public access to information about agricultural production practices, particularly livestock production. Originally created in the 1990s, these laws have recently experienced a resurgence in state legislatures. We discuss the recent history of ag-gag laws in the United States and question whether such ag-gag laws create a "chilling effect" on reporting and investigation of occupational health, community health, and food safety concerns related to industrial food animal production. We conclude with a discussion of the role of environmental and occupational health professionals to encourage critical evaluation of how ag-gag laws might influence the health, safety, and interests of day-to-day agricultural laborers and the public living proximal to industrial food animal production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin A. Ceryes
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher D. Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Arnold TJ, Malki A, Leyva J, Ibarra J, Daniel SS, Ballard PJ, Sandberg JC, Quandt SA, Arcury TA. Engaging Youth Advocates in Community-Based Participatory Research on Child Farmworker Health in North Carolina. Prog Community Health Partnersh 2019; 13:191-199. [PMID: 31178454 PMCID: PMC6559374 DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2019.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSM) investigators and Student Action with Farmworkers' (SAF) Levante Leadership Institute, a farmworker youth program, are collaborating on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study. OBJECTIVES 1) Describe the collaborative process between WFSM investigators and the Levante advisory board during the strategic planning and implementation phase and 2) highlight practices that support the collaboration and project success. METHODS The longitudinal Hired Child Farmworker Study examines the health and safety of hired Latino child farm-workers in North Carolina. Two Levante alumni co- investigators lead research-related activities with the Levante advisory board. LESSONS LEARNED Challenges to CBPR with youth are overcome by the longstanding partnership between WFSM and SAF, attention to logistical details, power sharing, building on shared values, and assessment of youth preferences. CONCLUSIONS The partnership between WFSM and Levante demonstrates the mutual benefit of CBPR and will continue during the upcoming study phases.
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19
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Moyce SC, Schenker M. Occupational Exposures and Health Outcomes Among Immigrants in the USA. Curr Environ Health Rep 2018; 4:349-354. [PMID: 28812286 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-017-0152-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Immigrants experience higher rates of occupational injury and fatality than their native-born counterparts. This review summarizes the current data related to occupational/environmental exposures and explores potential reasons for the disparities. RECENT FINDINGS Immigrant workers are employed in sectors that expose them to dangerous working conditions. They experience increased risk for exposure to heat, pesticides, hazardous chemicals, and cleaning agents, as well as physical hazards such as falls. Immigrant workers are at increased risk for occupational injury and fatality due to the nature of the work they traditionally perform, a lack of enforced safety regulations, and limited access to health care or worker's compensation benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally C Moyce
- School of Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, 3100 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94609, USA
| | - Marc Schenker
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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20
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Abstract
In 2015, approximately 244 million people were transnational migrants, approximately half of whom were workers, often engaged in jobs that are hazardous to their health. They work for less pay, for longer hours, and in worse conditions than do nonmigrants and are often subject to human rights violations, abuse, human trafficking, and violence. Worldwide, immigrant workers have higher rates of adverse occupational exposures and working conditions, which lead to poor health outcomes, workplace injuries, and occupational fatalities. Health disparities of immigrant workers are related to environmental and occupational exposures and are a result of language/cultural barriers, access to health care, documentation status, and the political climate of the host country. Recommendations on global and local scales are offered as potential solutions to improving the health of immigrant workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally C Moyce
- School of Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California 94609, USA;
| | - Marc Schenker
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA;
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21
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Masterson EA, Themann CL, Calvert GM. Prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers within the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector, 2003-2012. Am J Ind Med 2018; 61:42-50. [PMID: 29152771 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed US workers within the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting (AFFH) sector. METHODS Audiograms for 1.4 million workers (17 299 within AFFH) from 2003 to 2012 were examined. Prevalence, and the adjusted risk for hearing loss as compared with the reference industry (Couriers and Messengers), were estimated. RESULTS The overall AFFH sector prevalence was 15% compared to 19% for all industries combined, but many of the AFFH sub-sectors exceeded the overall prevalence. Forestry sub-sector prevalences were highest with Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products at 36% and Timber Tract Operations at 22%. The Aquaculture sub-sector had the highest adjusted risk of all AFFH sub-sectors (PR = 1.70; CI = 1.42-2.04). CONCLUSIONS High risk industries within the AFFH sector need continued hearing conservation efforts. Barriers to hearing loss prevention and early detection of hearing loss need to be recognized and addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Masterson
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cincinnati Ohio
| | - Christa L. Themann
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cincinnati Ohio
| | - Geoffrey M. Calvert
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cincinnati Ohio
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22
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De Matteis S, Heederik D, Burdorf A, Colosio C, Cullinan P, Henneberger PK, Olsson A, Raynal A, Rooijackers J, Santonen T, Sastre J, Schlünssen V, van Tongeren M, Sigsgaard T. Current and new challenges in occupational lung diseases. Eur Respir Rev 2017; 26:170080. [PMID: 29141963 PMCID: PMC6033059 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0080-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Occupational lung diseases are an important public health issue and are avoidable through preventive interventions in the workplace. Up-to-date knowledge about changes in exposure to occupational hazards as a result of technological and industrial developments is essential to the design and implementation of efficient and effective workplace preventive measures. New occupational agents with unknown respiratory health effects are constantly introduced to the market and require periodic health surveillance among exposed workers to detect early signs of adverse respiratory effects. In addition, the ageing workforce, many of whom have pre-existing respiratory conditions, poses new challenges in terms of the diagnosis and management of occupational lung diseases. Primary preventive interventions aimed to reduce exposure levels in the workplace remain pivotal for elimination of the occupational lung disease burden. To achieve this goal there is still a clear need for setting standard occupational exposure limits based on transparent evidence-based methodology, in particular for carcinogens and sensitising agents that expose large working populations to risk. The present overview, focused on the occupational lung disease burden in Europe, proposes directions for all parties involved in the prevention of occupational lung disease, from researchers and occupational and respiratory health professionals to workers and employers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara De Matteis
- Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Burdorf
- Dept of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudio Colosio
- Dept of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Centre for Rural Health of the S. Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Paul Cullinan
- Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paul K Henneberger
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ann Olsson
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Anne Raynal
- Occupational Medicine Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jos Rooijackers
- Netherlands Expertise Center for Occupational Respiratory Disorders, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joaquin Sastre
- Allergy Service, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Faculty of Medicine Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, CIBER of Respiratory Diseases, Ministry of Economy, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Dept of Public Health, Section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- National Research Center for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health; Centre for Epidemiology; Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care; School of Health Sciences; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Torben Sigsgaard
- Dept of Public Health, Section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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23
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Prado JB, Mulay PR, Kasner EJ, Bojes HK, Calvert GM. Acute Pesticide-Related Illness Among Farmworkers: Barriers to Reporting to Public Health Authorities. J Agromedicine 2017; 22:395-405. [PMID: 28762882 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2017.1353936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2022]
Abstract
Farmworkers are at high risk of acute occupational pesticide-related illness (AOPI) and AOPI surveillance is vital to preventing these illnesses. Data on such illnesses are collected and analyzed to identify high-risk groups, high-risk pesticides, and root causes. Interventions to address these risks and root causes include farmworker outreach, education, and regulation. Unfortunately, it is well known that AOPI is underreported, meaning that the true burden of this condition remains unknown. This article reviews the barriers to reporting of farmworker AOPI to public health authorities and provides some practical solutions. Information is presented using the social-ecological model spheres of influence. Factors that contribute to farmworker AOPI underreporting include fear of job loss or deportation, limited English proficiency (LEP), limited access to health care, lack of clinician recognition of AOPI, farmworker ineligibility for workers' compensation (WC) benefits in many states, insufficient resources to conduct AOPI surveillance, and constraints in coordinating AOPI investigations across state agencies. Solutions to address these barriers include: emphasizing that employers encourage farmworkers to report safety concerns; raising farmworker awareness of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and increasing the availability of these clinics; improving environmental toxicology training to health-care students and professionals; encouraging government agencies to investigate pesticide complaints and provide easy-to-read reports of investigation findings; fostering public health reporting from electronic medical records, poison control centers (PCCs), and WC; expanding and strengthening AOPI state-based surveillance programs; and developing interagency agreements to outline the roles and responsibilities of each state agency involved with pesticide safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Prakash R Mulay
- b Florida Department of Health , Tallahassee , Florida , USA
| | - Edward J Kasner
- c Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences , University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle , Washington , USA
| | - Heidi K Bojes
- d Texas Department of State Health Services , Austin , Texas , USA
| | - Geoffrey M Calvert
- e Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Cincinnati , Ohio , USA
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24
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Bendixsen CG. The Entanglements of Agrarian Ethics With Agrarian Risks and Leveraging Them in Agricultural Health Safety. J Agromedicine 2017; 22:17-25. [PMID: 27749196 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2016.1248308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Agriculture is the most dangerous occupation in the United States for both workers and bystanders. Family farms highlight an intersection of domesticity and labor. Agrarian ethics of animal husbandry, land stewardship, and kinship are often conflated and constructed to accommodate unpredictable risks (e.g., weather, financial markets). Here, the right or good agricultural practice is assessed in light of an acute event. Risks of illness and injury are often relegated to the realm of acute unpredictability and accepted as intrinsic to desirable ways of life. The article presents a description of agrarian ethics and risks generated from personal experience and ethnographic inquiries in the Midwest, the Intermountain West, and Texas over the past 10 years. This article assesses health and safety within agrarian ethics. The results and discussion lead us to an important conversation about how we can be more detailed in the use of terms such as "cultural appropriateness." It also raises the question as to what is really at stake in public health perspectives like those found in the socioecological and extended parallel process models when deployed in agricultural health and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper G Bendixsen
- a National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation , Marshfield , Wisconsin , USA
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25
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Snipes SA, Cooper SP, Shipp EM. "The Only Thing I Wish I Could Change Is That They Treat Us Like People and Not Like Animals": Injury and Discrimination Among Latino Farmworkers. J Agromedicine 2017; 22:36-46. [PMID: 27749157 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2016.1248307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This article describes how perceived discrimination shapes the way Latino farmworkers encounter injuries and seek out treatment. METHODS After 5 months of ethnographic fieldwork, 89 open-ended, semistructured interviews were analyzed. NVivo was used to code and qualitatively organize the interviews and field notes. Finally, codes, notes, and co-occurring dynamics were used to iteratively assess the data for major themes. RESULTS The primary source of perceived discrimination was the "boss" or farm owner. Immigrant status was also a significant influence on how farmworkers perceived the discrimination. Specifically, the ability to speak English and length of stay in the United States were related to stronger perceptions of discrimination. Finally, farm owners compelled their Latino employees to work through their injuries without treatment. CONCLUSIONS This ethnographic account brings attention to how discrimination and lack of worksite protections are implicated in farmworkers' injury experiences and suggests the need for policies that better safeguard vulnerable workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shedra A Snipes
- a Department of Biobehavioral Health , The Pennsylvania State University, State College , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Sharon P Cooper
- b Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus , San Antonio , Texas , USA
| | - Eva M Shipp
- c Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health , College Station , Texas , USA
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26
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Menger LM, Rosecrance J, Stallones L, Roman-Muniz IN. A Guide to the Design of Occupational Safety and Health Training for Immigrant, Latino/a Dairy Workers. Front Public Health 2016; 4:282. [PMID: 28066760 PMCID: PMC5179979 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Industrialized dairy production in the U.S. relies on an immigrant, primarily Latino/a, workforce to meet greater production demands. Given the high rates of injuries and illnesses on U.S. dairies, there is pressing need to develop culturally appropriate training to promote safe practices among immigrant, Latino/a dairy workers. To date, there have been few published research articles or guidelines specific to developing effective occupational safety and health (OSH) training for immigrant, Latino/a workers in the dairy industry. Literature relevant to safety training for immigrant workers in agriculture and other high-risk industries (e.g., construction) was examined to identify promising approaches. The aim of this paper is to provide a practical guide for researchers and practitioners involved in the design and implementation of effective OSH training programs for immigrant, Latino/a workers in the dairy industry. The search was restricted to peer-reviewed academic journals and guidelines published between 1980 and 2015 by universities or extension programs, written in English, and related to health and safety training among immigrant, Latino/a workers within agriculture and other high-risk industries. Relevant recommendations regarding effective training transfer were also included from literature in the field of industrial-organizational psychology. A total of 97 articles were identified, of which 65 met the inclusion criteria and made a unique and significant contribution. The review revealed a number of promising strategies for how to effectively tailor health and safety training for immigrant, Latino/a workers in the dairy industry grouped under five main themes: (1) understanding and involving workers; (2) training content and materials; (3) training methods; (4) maximizing worker engagement; and (5) program evaluation. The identification of best practices in the design and implementation of training programs for immigrant, Latino/a workers within agriculture and other high-risk industries can inform the development of more effective and sustainable health and safety training for immigrant, Latino/a dairy workers in the U.S. and other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Menger
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - John Rosecrance
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lorann Stallones
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ivette Noami Roman-Muniz
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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27
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Sorensen JA, Tinc PJ, Weil R, Droullard D. Symbolic Interactionism: A Framework for Understanding Risk-Taking Behaviors in Farm Communities. J Agromedicine 2016; 22:26-35. [DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2016.1248306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Sorensen
- New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, New York, USA
| | - Pamela J. Tinc
- New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, New York, USA
| | - Rebecca Weil
- New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, New York, USA
| | - David Droullard
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
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28
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Levin JL, Gilmore K, Wickman A, Shepherd S, Shipp E, Nonnenmann M, Carruth A. Workplace Safety Interventions for Commercial Fishermen of the Gulf. J Agromedicine 2016; 21:178-89. [DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2016.1143430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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29
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Hege A, Vallejos QM, Apostolopoulos Y, Lemke MK. Health disparities of Latino immigrant workers in the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MIGRATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 2015. [DOI: 10.1108/ijmhsc-06-2014-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature pertaining to occupational health disparities experienced by Latino immigrant workers in the USA and to advance a general framework based on systems science to inform epidemiological and intervention research.
Design/methodology/approach
– Using papers and other sources from 2000 to the present, the authors examined the employment conditions and health outcomes of Latino immigrant workers and critically analyzed the pervasive evidence of health disparities, including causal mechanisms and associated intervention programs.
Findings
– The occupations, including the work environment and resultant living conditions, frequently performed by Latino immigrants in the USA represent a distinct trigger of increased injury risk and poor health outcomes. Extant intervention programs have had modest results at best and are in need of more comprehensive approaches to address the complex nature of health disparities.
Practical implications
– An integrated, systems-based framework concerning occupational health disparities among Latino immigrant workers allows for a holistic approach encompassing innovative methods and can inform high-leverage interventions including public policy.
Originality/value
– Reductionist approaches to health disparities have had significant limitations and miss the complete picture of the many influences. The framework the authors have provided elucidates a valuable method for reducing occupational health disparities among Latino immigrant workers as well as other populations.
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30
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Shannon KL, Kim BF, McKenzie SE, Lawrence RS. Food System Policy, Public Health, and Human Rights in the United States. Annu Rev Public Health 2015; 36:151-73. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The US food system functions within a complex nexus of social, political, economic, cultural, and ecological factors. Among them are many dynamic pressures such as population growth, urbanization, socioeconomic inequities, climate disruption, and the increasing demand for resource-intensive foods that place immense strains on public health and the environment. This review focuses on the role that policy plays in defining the food system, particularly with regard to agriculture. It further examines the challenges of making the food supply safe, nutritious, and sustainable, while respecting the rights of all people to have access to adequate food and to attain the highest standard of health. We conclude that the present US food system is largely unhealthy, inequitable, environmentally damaging, and insufficiently resilient to endure the impacts of climate change, resource depletion, and population increases, and is therefore unsustainable. Thus, it is imperative that the US embraces policy reforms to transform the food system into one that supports public health and reflects the principles of human rights and agroecology for the benefit of current and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry L. Shannon
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future,
- Department of International Health,
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205;, , ,
| | - Brent F. Kim
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future,
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and
| | - Shawn E. McKenzie
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future,
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and
| | - Robert S. Lawrence
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future,
- Department of International Health,
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205;, , ,
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora Roelofs
- Cora Roelofs is with the Community Health Program, Tufts University, Medford, MA. David Wegman is with the Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell
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London L, Tangwa G, Matchaba-Hove R, Mkhize N, Nwabueze R, Nyika A, Westerholm P. Ethics in occupational health: deliberations of an international workgroup addressing challenges in an African context. BMC Med Ethics 2014; 15:48. [PMID: 24957477 PMCID: PMC4098949 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6939-15-48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND International codes of ethics play an important role in guiding professional practice in developing countries. In the occupational health setting, codes developed by international agencies have substantial import on protecting working populations from harm. This is particularly so under globalisation which has transformed processes of production in fundamental ways across the globe. As part of the process of revising the Ethical Code of the International Commission on Occupational Health, an Africa Working Group addressed key challenges for the relevance and cogency of an ethical code in occupational health for an African context through an iterative consultative process. DISCUSSION Firstly, even in the absence of strong legal systems of enforcement, and notwithstanding the value of legal institutionalisation of ethical codes, guidelines alone may offer advantageous routes to enhancing ethical practice in occupational health. Secondly, globalisation has particularly impacted on health and safety at workplaces in Africa, challenging occupational health professionals to be sensitive to, and actively redress imbalance of power. Thirdly, the different ways in which vulnerability is exemplified in the workplace in Africa often places the occupational health professional in invidious positions of Dual Loyalty. Fourth, the particular cultural emphasis in traditional African societies on collective responsibilities within the community impacts directly on how consent should be sought in occupational health practice, and how stigma should be dealt with, balancing individual autonomy with ideas of personhood that are more collective as in the African philosophy of ubuntu. To address stigma, practitioners need to be additionally sensitive to how power imbalances at the workplace intersect with traditional cultural norms related to solidarity. Lastly, particularly in the African context, the inseparability of workplace and community means that efforts to address workplace hazards demand that actions for occupational health extend beyond just the workplace. SUMMARY A stronger articulation of occupational health practice with advocacy for prevention should be an ethical norm. Ethical codes should ideally harmonize and balance individual and community needs so as to provide stronger moral authority guidelines. There is a need to consider an African Charter on Bioethics as complementary and strengthening of existing codes for the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie London
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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McCullagh MC, Sanon MA, Cohen MA. Strategies to enhance participant recruitment and retention in research involving a community-based population. Appl Nurs Res 2014; 27:249-53. [PMID: 24667018 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2014.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Challenges associated with recruiting and retaining community-based populations in research studies have been recognized yet remain of major concern for researchers. There is a need for exchange of recruitment and retention techniques that inform recruitment and retention strategies. Here, the authors discuss a variety of methods that were successful in exceeding target recruitment and retention goals in a randomized clinical trial of hearing protector use among farm operators. Recruitment and retention strategies were 1) based on a philosophy of mutually beneficial engagement in the research process, 2) culturally appropriate, 3) tailored to the unique needs of partnering agencies, and 4) developed and refined in a cyclical and iterative process. Sponsoring organizations are interested in cost-effective recruitment and retention strategies, particularly relating to culturally and ethnically diverse groups. These approaches may result in enhanced subject recruitment and retention, concomitant containment of study costs, and timely accomplishment of study aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie C McCullagh
- Occupational Health Nursing Program University of Michigan School, of Nursing, 400N. Ingalls Street room 3182, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 48019.
| | - Marie-Anne Sanon
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N. Ingalls Street room 3175, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 48109-5482.
| | - Michael A Cohen
- Occupational Health Nursing Program University of Michigan School, of Nursing, 400N. Ingalls Street room 3182, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 48019.
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Abstract
Agricultural workers have a high risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. However, there are very few standardized tools available to assess safety and health in agricultural operations. Additionally, there are a number of groups of agricultural workers, including Hmong refugees and immigrants, for which virtually no information on safety and health conditions is available. This study developed an observation-based methodology for systematically evaluating occupational health and safety hazards in agriculture, and pilot-tested this on several small-scale Hmong farming operations. Each observation assessed of range of safety and health hazards (e.g., musculoskeletal hazards, dust and pollen, noise, and mechanical hazards), as well as on factors such as type of work area, presence of personal protective equipment, and weather conditions. Thirty-six observations were collected on nine farms. The most common hazards observed were bending at the back and lifting <50 pounds. Use of sharp tools without adequate guarding mechanisms, awkward postures, repetitive hand motions, and lifting >50 pounds were also common. The farming activities observed involved almost no power equipment, and no pesticide or chemical handling was observed. The use of personal protective equipment was uncommon. The results of this assessment agreed well with a parallel study of perceived safety and health hazards among Hmong agricultural workers. This study suggests that small-scale Hmong farming operations involve a variety of hazards, and that occupational health interventions may be warranted in this community. The study also demonstrates the utility of standardized assessment tools and mixed-method approaches to hazard evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Neitzel
- a R. L. Neitzel is affiliated with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Risk Science Center , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA
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