Interventions to Decrease Heat Stress Among Latinx Farmworkers in Idaho

Environmental Exposure

farmworker, heat exposure

The goal of this study is to collaborate with farmworker, community organizations, and labor contractors/employers to develop workplace- and individual-level interventions, and evaluate the efficacy of those interventions in decreasing physiological and perceived heat stress among Latinx farmworkers in Idaho.

Occupational heat exposure presents one of the clearest acute and long-term health threats to farmworkers and will continue to worsen under climate change. Exposure to extreme heat can lead to Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI), a continuum of diseases that can range from mild symptoms (e.g., dizziness, fatigue, vomiting) to severe and life-threatening conditions including convulsions, coma, and even death. It is becoming increasingly urgent to identify effective strategies to prevent the health impacts of heat exposure among farmworkers as climate change increases the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves. The few studies that have examined this topic have identified some beneficial impacts of increasing access to cold water and shade at the workplace, however studies to date have been limited by their investigation of individual- and workplace- interventions in isolation and research teams that do not engage farmworkers and community-based organizations. Further, the studies that have been conducted have taken place primarily in states with regulations that prohibit work over a specific heat index, and it is important to examine the impacts of interventions to decrease heat stress in states without these regulations, such as Idaho. The aims of this study are to collaborate with farmworkers, farmworker employers, and community organizations to develop and evaluate the efficacy of multi-level interventions in mitigating physiological and perceived heat strain among Latinx farmworkers in Idaho. The investigators further aim to examine the efficacy of educational programs (e.g., training in identifying and preventing personal and occupational risk factors for heat stress) on knowledge, behaviors, and perceptions. Leveraging our existing and well-established relationships with multiple community partners, the investigators will disseminate the research findings and promote the implementation of health-protective heat interventions to farmworkers, farmworker employers, and stakeholders across Idaho and the Mountain West. This study was motivated by concerns voiced by participants in a previous study of Latinx farmworkers led by the current team of researchers and community organizations. Here, the investigators aim to respond directly to their stated concerns regarding occupational heat exposure.

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