TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Cooling interventions among agricultural workers: a pilot study
JO  - Workplace health and safety
A1  - Chicas, Roxana
A1  - Xiuhtecutli, Nezahualcoyotl
A1  - Elon, Lisa
A1  - Scammell, Madeleine K.
A1  - Steenland, Kyle
A1  - Hertzberg, Vicki
A1  - McCauley, Linda
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Adverse health effects among agricultural workers due to chronic heat  exposure have been characterized in the literature as not only due to high ambient  temperatures but also due to intensive manual labor in hot and humid conditions. The  aim of this study was to use biomonitoring equipment to examine the effectiveness of  selected cooling devices at preventing agricultural workers from exceeding the core  body temperature threshold of 38.0°C (Tc38) and attenuating heat-related illness  symptoms. <br><br>METHODS: A convenience sample of 84 agricultural workers in Florida was  randomized to one of four groups: (a) no intervention, clothing as usual; (b)  cooling bandana; (c) cooling vest; and (d) both the cooling bandana and cooling  vest. Biomonitoring equipment worn by the participants included core body  temperature monitor and an accelerometer to capture physical activity. <br><br>FINDINGS: A  total of 78 agricultural workers completed one intervention workday trial. Compared  with the control group, the bandana group had lower odds of exceeding Tc38 (odds  ratio [OR] = 0.7, 90% confidence interval [CI] = [0.2, 3.2]) and the vest group had  higher odds of exceeding Tc38 (OR = 1.8, 90% CI = [0.4, 7.9]). The simultaneous use  of cooling vest and bandana showed an effect little different from the control group  (OR = 1.3, 90% CI = [0.3, 5.6]). <br><br>CONCLUSION/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: This is the  first field-based study to examine cooling intervention among agricultural workers  in the United States using biomonitoring equipment. This study found that using a  bandana while working in a hot agricultural environment has the potential to be  protective against exceeding the recommended Tc38 threshold.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2165-0799
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2165079920976524
ID  - ref1
ER  -