Citation

Swanberg JE, Clouser JM, Westneat S. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2012; 55(8): 714-728.

Affiliation

College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; Institute for Workplace Innovation, College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. jswanberg@uky.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22032

PMID

22431196

Abstract

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. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en