Safety and Injury Characteristics of Youth Farmworkers in North Carolina: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Agriculture is a unique US industry in how youth are involved. Youth employed in agriculture experience high rates of injury, and youth migrant and seasonal farmworkers may be extremely vulnerable. The primary aim for this analysis is to describe the personal characteristics, work characteristics, occupational safety behaviors, and occupational injuries of North Carolina youth farmworkers. This pilot study uses data from interviewer-administered questionnaires with 87 youth farmworkers. Participants included males (62.1%) and females (37.9%), with 26.4% aged 10-13 years, 39.1% 14-15 years, and 34.5% 16-17 years. The majority (78.2%) were born in the United States. Most worked in tobacco (46.0%), sweet potatoes (28.7%), and berries (28.7%). They were paid by the hour (54.0%) and piece rate (55.2%); 21.8% reported a problem getting paid the amount earned. Three quarters wore a hat, and 63.2% wore gloves while working. Five (5.7%) had received pesticide use training in the past year. Over half reported a musculoskeletal injury (54.0%), a traumatic injury (60.9%), or a dermatological injury (72.4%) in the last year. Six of the injuries led to medical treatment, and 10 resulted in missed school or work. Farmworker youth in North Carolina are at times not treated fairly when they work, occupational safety behaviors are limited (increasing exposure to pesticides and other environmental hazards), and they commonly experience injuries. Research on the occupational exposures and health experienced by youth farmworkers is needed to inform policy. Changes in policy are warranted to improve the safety of youth farmworkers.

Health and Occupational Injury Experienced by Latinx Child Farmworkers in North Carolina, USA

“…A few studies present information on occupational injuries experienced by child farmworkers. A pilot study of child farmworkers in North Carolina conducted in 2013 [12] found greater percentages of participants reporting any traumatic injury (60.9% versus 26.2% in the current study), any musculoskeletal injury (54.0% versus 42.6%), and any dermatological injury (72.4% versus 44.1%) than reported for the current study. Both studies found that few of the injured child farmworkers received medical care or missed school or work due to their occupational injuries.…”

“…The interview questionnaire included items taken from existing questionnaires and scales [12,25], with additional items developed by the investigators. The questionnaire was first developed in English.…”

Discourse on culture in research on immigrant and migrant workers’ health

“…In addition, 24 articles (22%) discussed acculturation, mostly in terms of health and safety risks and responses. While some described acculturation issues among immigrant or migrant workers as context, others discussed it as a determinant of the work performed, hazards or stressors to which workers are exposed, or as a cause or contributing factor to poor physical and mental health . For example, Quandt et al wrote, in the context of their study on skin disease among Latino immigrant manual workers:

“In a subsample of this study sample who received a clinical skin evaluation, indigenous language was associated with a greater overall level of skin disease, including both infectious and inflammatory conditions [Pichardo‐Geisinger et al, 2013].

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Using "Policy Briefs" to Present Scientific Results of CBPR: Farmworkers in North Carolina

“…Policy briefs have addressed pesticide exposure for farmworkers, an issue with which the US Environmental Protection Agency has been involved over the past decade in developing revised safety standards, the Worker Protection Standard (http://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/revisions-worker-protection-standard); housing regulations for migrant farmworkers, the focus of a national discussion concerning housing quality and enforcement of federal and state standards; 21 and child labor, for which current regulations allow exceptions to child labor laws that apply only to agriculture and allow children as young as 10 years old to work for hire in one of the nation’s most hazardous industries. 22–26 Other policy briefs have addressed specific health services concerns, including farmworker access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and alcohol consumption and dependence. Generally, the authors of the published papers, along with community representatives and advocates (often those collaborating in the CBPR), have expertise in the policy issue being addressed; if needed, individuals with the additional expertise would be contacted.…”