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Agricultural Worker Health

SEMINAL STUDY

11.2

11.1 // Intro to Workplace & Employment

11.3 // Construction Worker Health

11 WORKPLACE & EMPLOYMENT

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WORKPLACE: AGRICULTURE

IMPACT ON WORKER HEALTH OUTCOMES

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Disclosure Statement

The creators and presenters of this educational material have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program/presentation. All images are used by either permission and/or licensure.

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INTRODUCTION

    • Major industry in many states across the US, California is #1 producer
    • 69% of farm workers live in Urban/Metropolitan counties
    • One of the most hazardous industries

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Social EM: Ag Worker Health

THE JOBS

Hired farmworkers are found in a variety of occupations, including field crop workers, nursery workers, livestock workers, graders and sorters, agricultural inspectors, supervisors, and hired farm managers.

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Social EM: Ag Worker Health

WHO

5 million

Farm workers across the US

$29,680

Average yearly income

20%

Live in California

26.1%

Female farm workers in 2019

Are youth under age 18 working on farms

260,000

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This population is also unique in that family members are also at risk of harm - especially if family members are part of the labor force

Mechanical aids - such as hydraulic platforms that replace ladders in tree-fruit harvesting, and mobile conveyor belts that reduce the distance heavy loads must be carried - facilitate more women and older workers in performing tasks that traditionally have been performed by younger men.

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DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT

    • Tractor rollover
    • falls from ladder
    • Environmental exposure
    • Respiratory compromise
    • Zoonotic, ground, water pathogen exposure
    • Pesticide exposure
    • Tobacco sickness
    • Family members at risk of similar hazards

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Social EM: Ag Worker Health

“[Farm workers] are involved in the planting and the cultivation and the harvesting of the greatest abundance of food known in this society. They…feed…the whole country and enough food to export to other places. The ironic thing and the tragic thing is that after they make this tremendous contribution, they don’t have any money or any food left for themselves”

- Ceasar Chavez

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ACCESS IS NOT UNIVERSAL

    • Health insurance
    • Low health literacy
    • Pay per piece - time is money
    • Transportation
    • Woman’s health - pregnancy and reproductive risks

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IN THE ED

    • Important to know what type of what patient’s do: field, livestock, machinery, etc. It can guide management and discharge (instructions, work excuse period)

    • Social work referral if health insurance or transportation access is an challenge - provide community resources when available

    • For pediatric population - ask if they also help on the farm, what jobs they do. Ask parents if they themselves were exposed to pesticides

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    • Have an interpreter if language is a barrier

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RESOURCES

“Agricultural Workers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Sept. 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/agricultural-workers.htm.

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“Community Health Risks of Industrial Agriculture | Healthy Food Playbook.” Delivering Community Benefit: Healthy Food Playbook | Healthy Food Playbook, https://foodcommunitybenefit.noharm.org/resources/community-health-needs-assessment/community-health-risks-industrial-agriculture. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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“Home - NFWM.” NFWM, https://www.facebook.com/nfwministry/, https://nfwm.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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McCauley, Linda A., et al. “Studying Health Outcomes in Farmworker Populations Exposed to Pesticides.” Environmental Health Perspectives, no. 6, Environmental Health Perspectives, June 2006, pp. 953–60. Crossref, doi:10.1289/ehp.8526.

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Mobed, K., et al. “Occupational Health Problems among Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers. - PMC.” PubMed Central (PMC), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1011296/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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National Institute for Safety and Occupational health. “Publications - General - Agricultural Safety | NIOSH | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/pubsgeneral.html. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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“State Child Labor Laws Applicable to Agricultural Employment | U.S. Department of Labor.” DOL, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor/agriculture. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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THANK YOU

Social EM: Ag Worker Health

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SEMINAL STUDY

Construction Worker Health

11.3

11.4 // Shift Work Health

11.5 // Gig Employment Health

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