Safety and Health Hazard Observations in Hmong Farming Operations

Abstract

Agricultural workers have a high risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. However, there are very few standardized tools available to assess safety and health in agricultural operations. Additionally, there are a number of groups of agricultural workers, including Hmong refugees and immigrants, for which virtually no information on safety and health conditions is available. This study developed an observation-based methodology for systematically evaluating occupational health and safety hazards in agriculture, and pilot-tested this on several small-scale Hmong farming operations. Each observation assessed of range of safety and health hazards (e.g., musculoskeletal hazards, dust and pollen, noise, and mechanical hazards), as well as on factors such as type of work area, presence of personal protective equipment, and weather conditions. Thirty-six observations were collected on nine farms. The most common hazards observed were bending at the back and lifting <50 pounds. Use of sharp tools without adequate guarding mechanisms, awkward postures, repetitive hand motions, and lifting >50 pounds were also common. The farming activities observed involved almost no power equipment, and no pesticide or chemical handling was observed. The use of personal protective equipment was uncommon. The results of this assessment agreed well with a parallel study of perceived safety and health hazards among Hmong agricultural workers. This study suggests that small-scale Hmong farming operations involve a variety of hazards, and that occupational health interventions may be warranted in this community. The study also demonstrates the utility of standardized assessment tools and mixed-method approaches to hazard evaluation.

Assessing Hmong Farmers’ Safety and Health

“…Of note, as a complement to these participatory approaches, traditional worksite walk-through inspections were conducted on participants’ farms. Findings from these walkthroughs are reported elsewhere (Neitzel, Krenz, & de Castro, in press). Collectively, these various assessment methods offered a unique approach that triangulated data sources to gain a rich, multidimensional perspective of agricultural safety and health issues among Hmong refugee farmers, which may guide the development of possible intervention projects in the future.…”

“…The project’s community liaison, who is of Hmong descent, was present at both workshops to assist with language translation. Between these two sessions, during the actual growing season, participants engaged in photovoice and walk-through observations of participants’ farms using industrial hygiene approaches (Neitzel, Krenz, & de Castro, in press). …”

Prevalência de sinais e sintomas digestórios em trabalhadoras rurais e fatores associados

“…Evidences of the associations between gastric disorders and pesticide application by rural workers have been reported in the literature. (2)(3)(4)(5)(6) A study involving individuals who applied pesticides reported gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and retrosternal pain or discomfort. These symptoms were attributed to gastrointestinal irritation produced by the release of phosphine into the stomach.…”

“…(10,11) Similarly, the evaluation of the rural population is very important to identify gastric disorders and infections because of this group's socioeconomic status (7) and the type of work they perform, which is tiring, exhausting, heavy, without a fixed schedule, and its success is dependent not only on workers but also on the weather. (6) Rural workers also perform domestic work, which can exacerbate physical, mental, and temporal demands in the execution of multiple activities. A previous study involving men and women and investigating on the use of their time to reconcile work and family life indicated that women were tied to domestic responsibilities and that this might contribute to increased stress.…”

A clinical and epidemiological study of upper limb injuries resulting from agricultural accidents

“…1 Agricultural workrelated injury can be defined as an acute injury that occurs while doing farm work or travelling to or from work. Agricultural upper limb injuries are important causes of mortality and morbidity for all age groups.…”