Dataset Information

Work Adaptations Insufficient to Address Growing Heat Risk for U.S. Agricultural Workers.

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.

SUBMITTER: Tigchelaar M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7594196 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Work Adaptations Insufficient to Address Growing Heat Risk for U.S. Agricultural Workers.

Tigchelaar Michelle M Battisti David S DS Spector June T JT

Environmental research letters : ERL [Web site] 20200825 9

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- ...[more]

PMID: 33133229

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Project description:IntroductionChronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Workplace exposures are important modifiable contributors to the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among U.S. workers, 19% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases are attributable to workplace exposures. This study examines the trends in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence during 2012-2018 among workers and assesses the population attributable fraction for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with work by smoking status, industry, and occupation.MethodsThe 2012-2018 National Health Interview Survey data for workers aged ≥18 years employed during the 12 months before the interview were analyzed in 2019. Annual trends were examined using the Poisson regression model. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted prevalence ORs.ResultsDuring 2012-2018, an estimated age-adjusted annual average of 4.1% of workers had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and prevalence varied by industry and occupation. Overall, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence increased by an estimated annual average of 1.5% (p<0.05). The prevalence trends increased significantly among workers in the merchant wholesale nondurable and the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries and among financial specialists; supervisors, other food services workers; supervisors, building grounds workers, and maintenance workers; personal care and services workers; supervisors and office and administrative support workers; and motor-vehicle operators and material moving workers. The proportion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases attributable to work was 27.3% among all workers and 24.0% among never smokers.ConclusionsPublic health efforts to increase the awareness and understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with occupational risk factors are needed to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among workers, especially among those employed in industries and occupations with increasing prevalence trends.

Dataset Information

Work Adaptations Insufficient to Address Growing Heat Risk for U.S. Agricultural Workers.

Publications

Work Adaptations Insufficient to Address Growing Heat Risk for U.S. Agricultural Workers.

Similar Datasets

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