Migrant farmworkers' housing conditions across an agricultural season in North Carolina

Vallejos, Quirina M.; Quandt, Sara A.; Grzywacz, Joseph G.; Isom, Scott; Chen, Haiying; Galván, Leonardo; Whalley, Lara E.; Chatterjee, Arjun B.; Arcury, Thomas A.

doi:10.1002/ajim.20945

Cited by 64 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Research in NC has consistently found that farmworkers with H-2A visas are more likely to receive pesticide safety training, have better housing and field sanitation conditions, and not experience wage theft. 6–10 At the same time, farmworkers with H-2A visas remain vulnerable. They generally are allowed to work only for the single employer who recruits them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Job Characteristics and Work Safety Climate Among North Carolina Farmworkers With H-2A Visas

Arcury

Summers

Talton

et al. 2015

Journal of Agromedicine

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Migrant farmworkers are a vulnerable population. Migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas are the only agricultural workers with temporary work permits. Little research has directly focused on the job characteristics and work safety of workers with H-2A visas. This analysis (1) describes their personal and job characteristics, job hazards, and stressors; (2) describes their perceived work safety climate; and (3) examines associations of perceived work safety climate with job characteristics, job hazards, and stressors. Data are from a cross-sectional component of a larger study of farmworker pesticide exposure; in 2012 interviews were conducted with 163 migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas in North Carolina. The sample was limited to men aged 30 to 70 years. Migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas experience the same hazards as do other farmworkers. Their mean score on the perceived work safety climate scale 25.5 (SD=3.7) is similar to that of other farmworkers and other immigrant workers. Perceived work safety climate is associated with hours worked per week (p=0.02), precarious employment (p<0.001), planting and cultivating (p=0.002); topping tobacco (p=0.0012), and stress (p=0.02). Perceived work safety climate is particularly important for migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas because their labor contracts limit their options to change employers. Additional research on the status of work safety climate among agricultural workers is needed, as well as on the factors that affect work safety climate and on the safety characteristics that are affected by work safety climate. Policy changes that lead to improved work safety climate should be considered.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Job Characteristics and Work Safety Climate Among North Carolina Farmworkers With H-2A Visas

Arcury

Summers

Talton

et al. 2015

Journal of Agromedicine

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“…2–4 In addition to work-related exposure, most farmworkers live in substandard housing located near fields. 5–7 Such housing has been found to contain residues of multiple pesticides that can further expose workers. 8 These residues likely reflect drift or take-home pesticide pathways as workers bring pesticides into their residences, as well as the application of pesticides to try to control pest infestations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal Assessment of Blood Cholinesterase Activities Over 2 Consecutive Years Among Latino Nonfarmworkers and Pesticide-Exposed Farmworkers in North Carolina

Quandt

Pope

Chen

et al. 2015

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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Objective This study (1) describes patterns of whole blood total cholinesterase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase activities across the agricultural season, comparing farmworkers and non-farmworkers; and (2) explores differences between farmworkers' and non-farmworkers' likelihood of cholinesterase depression. Methods Blood samples from 210 Latino male farmworkers and 163 Latino workers with no occupational pesticide exposure collected eight times across two agricultural seasons were analyzed. Mean cholinesterase activity levels and depressions ≥15% were compared by month. Results Farmworkers had significantly lower total cholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in July and August and lower acetylcholinesterase activity in August. Farmworkers had significantly greater likelihood of cholinesterase depression for each cholinesterase measure across the agricultural season. Significance A repeated-measures design across two years with a non-exposed control group demonstrated anticholinesterase effects in farmworkers. Current regulations designed to prevent pesticide exposure are not effective.

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“…Camps that are hidden from public surveillance increase the probability that this vulnerable population will be forced to live in substandard housing that does not meet the minimum standards of current regulations and that farmworkers will be subject to other forms of crime. 23 New North Carolina legislation that deters community engagement in labor camps by classifying trespassing on agricultural facilities as a Class A1 misdemeanor (G.S. 14---159.12(c)(1)) is an example of a regressive policy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden Farmworker Labor Camps in North Carolina: An Indicator of Structural Vulnerability

et al. 2015

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Migrant farmworkers' housing conditions across an agricultural season in North Carolina

Cited by 64 publications

References 21 publications

Job Characteristics and Work Safety Climate Among North Carolina Farmworkers With H-2A Visas

Job Characteristics and Work Safety Climate Among North Carolina Farmworkers With H-2A Visas

Longitudinal Assessment of Blood Cholinesterase Activities Over 2 Consecutive Years Among Latino Nonfarmworkers and Pesticide-Exposed Farmworkers in North Carolina

Hidden Farmworker Labor Camps in North Carolina: An Indicator of Structural Vulnerability

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