BACKGROUND: Agriculture is hazardous and increasingly dependent on Latino workers, a vulnerable population. However, little research has studied how work organization influences Latino farmworker health. METHODS: Using a work organization framework, this cross-sectional study describes and compares the work organization and occupational health characteristics of a sample of Latino crop (n = 49) and horse production (n = 54) workers in Kentucky. RESULTS: Crop workers experienced more physical demands, work-related and environmental stressors, and musculoskeletal and ill-health symptoms. Significantly more crop workers indicated work-related illness or missed work due to work-related illness/injury, though one-fourth of both groups reported work-related injury in the past year. A majority of both groups cited exposure to toxic chemicals, a minority of whom received training on their use. CONCLUSION: Further surveillance is needed to understand the rate and precursors of illness/injury in these populations, as is research on the relationship between supervisory practices, psychosocial stressors, and occupational health.
BACKGROUND: Agriculture is hazardous and increasingly dependent on Latino workers, a vulnerable population. However, little research has studied how work organization influences Latino farmworker health. METHODS: Using a work organization framework, this cross-sectional study describes and compares the work organization and occupational health characteristics of a sample of Latino crop (n = 49) and horse production (n = 54) workers in Kentucky. RESULTS: Crop workers experienced more physical demands, work-related and environmental stressors, and musculoskeletal and ill-health symptoms. Significantly more crop workers indicated work-related illness or missed work due to work-related illness/injury, though one-fourth of both groups reported work-related injury in the past year. A majority of both groups cited exposure to toxic chemicals, a minority of whom received training on their use. CONCLUSION: Further surveillance is needed to understand the rate and precursors of illness/injury in these populations, as is research on the relationship between supervisory practices, psychosocial stressors, and occupational health.
Authors: Thomas A Arcury; Phillip Summers; Jennifer W Talton; Ha T Nguyen; Haiying Chen; Sara A Quandt Journal: J Agromedicine Date: 2015 Impact factor: 1.675
Authors: Thomas A Arcury; Grisel Trejo; Cynthia K Suerken; Joseph G Grzywacz; Edward H Ip; Sara A Quandt Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2015-03 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Dana C Mora; Christopher M Miles; Haiying Chen; Sara A Quandt; Phillip Summers; Thomas A Arcury Journal: Arch Environ Occup Health Date: 2014-12-02 Impact factor: 1.663
Authors: Thomas A Arcury; Joseph G Grzywacz; Haiying Chen; Dana C Mora; Sara A Quandt Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-01-16 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Thomas A Arcury; Haiying Chen; Dana C Mora; Francis O Walker; Michael S Cartwright; Sara A Quandt Journal: Arch Environ Occup Health Date: 2014-08-26 Impact factor: 1.765
Authors: Jennifer E Swanberg; Jessica M Clouser; Susan C Westneat; Mary W Marsh; Deborah B Reed Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2013-11-29 Impact factor: 3.390