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Farmworker reports of pesticide safety and sanitation in the work environment *
Author(s) -
Arcury Thomas A.,
Quandt Sara A.,
Cravey Altha J.,
Elmore Rebecca C.,
Russell Gregory B.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.1042
Subject(s) - sanitation , medicine , environmental health , occupational safety and health , intervention (counseling) , work (physics) , public health , safety behaviors , poison control , injury prevention , nursing , engineering , mechanical engineering , pathology
Background Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are at risk for occupational illnesses from pesticide exposure, and the effectiveness of pesticide safety regulations has not been evaluated. It is important to learn from farmworker safety experiences to develop effective measures to improve agricultural workplace safety. Methods Formative research included in‐depth interviews with farmworkers, farmers, extension agents, and health care providers. Survey research included interviews with 270 minority farmworkers during 1998, and 293 during 1999. Results Farmworkers and farmers hold different beliefs concerning pesticide safety which affect sanitation practices. Farmworkers report in survey data that farmers do not adhere to regulations mandating training and basic sanitation facilities. Conclusions Several points of intervention are available to improve pesticide safety and sanitation. Additional regulation by itself is not an advantageous starting point. The emphasis for intervention must include educating farmers as well as farmworkers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:487–498, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.