Estimating the Prevalence of Heat-Related Symptoms and Sun Safety–Related Behavior among Latino Farmworkers in Eastern North Carolina

Abstract

In hot weather, thermal heat generated by the body, combined with environmental heat from the sun, can lead outdoor workers to experience heat-related stress, severe illness, or even death. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of heat-related symptoms and potential risk factors associated with sun safety-related behavior among Latino farmworkers. Data from interviewer-administered questionnaires were collected from a cross-sectional survey among farmworkers (N = 158) from August to September 2013. Data analysis assessed associations between work activities, sun safety behavior, and the prevalence of heat-related illness (HRI) symptoms among workers. Nearly two thirds (72%) of farmworkers experienced at least one HRI symptom and lacked proper cooling methods when working outdoors. Most workers reported wearing long-sleeved shirts (85%), long pants (98%), and baseball caps (93%). The prevalence of having one HRI symptom was 72% and 27% among workers having three or more HRI symptoms. The majority of farmworkers experience symptoms of HRI and are not provided with proper shade protection when working outdoors. Increased emphasis on administrative controls, particularly educating field supervisors and workers on how to avoid and recognize HRI, should be a priority.

Heat-Related Illness in Midwestern Hispanic Farmworkers: A Descriptive Analysis of Hydration Status and Reported Symptoms

“…The housing units on the two farms sampled here were not closely inspected by the research team, but no AC units were known to be present. Shade tents or canopies were used in the fields in the IS group, this has been reported by others and also a humanitarian gesture by benevolent employers (Kearney et al, 2016).…”

Heat-Related Illness Among Latinx Child Farmworkers in North Carolina: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…Mirabelli et al 20 with a longer recall time (any previous year working in U.S. agriculture) found 40 percent of 281 North Carolina farmworkers reported HRI symptoms. Kearney et al 19 estimated an HRI prevalence of 72.3 percent among 158 North Carolina farmworkers, but included more HRI symptoms in the classification. In a Georgia study, Fleischer et al 18 found that one-third of 405 farmworkers experienced at least three HRI symptoms in the previous week.…”

“…Research in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, and California has documented high prevalence of HRI and other heat-related conditions among farmworkers. 9,13,[17][18][19][20][21][22] In addition to the health risks of HRI, recent reviews observed increased occupational injury risk in high temperatures among young workers, male workers, and agricultural workers. 23,24 The percent of farmworkers who are women has increased substantially since 2001, [25][26][27] and research is documenting factors related to HRI among women workers.…”

Heat related illness among workers in Washington State: A descriptive study using workers' compensation claims, 2006‐2017

“…Nationwide, about a quarter of HRI deaths have been reported in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting industrial sector which comprises a significant portion of the economy in WA. Prior studies among agricultural workers have described a range of self‐reported prevalence of HRI symptoms, from 35% of workers reporting HRI in the previous 3 months in one study to 72% of workers reporting heat associated symptoms in the previous week 14,15 . The variable prevalence estimates of HRI symptoms can be partially attributed to multiple factors including differences in symptom recognition, HRI reporting, and varying levels of occupational and environmental exposures across sample populations.…”