Discussion.
Nearly 94% of the surveyed population reported working in extreme heat. Despite not having information about in which other geographic regions the participants may have worked in the past, this high percentage is unsurprising given that the participants were farmworkers interviewed in a region where hot and humid conditions are common throughout the summertime. Of these respondents, nearly all reported drinking more water or taking breaks in shaded areas while working. North Carolina does not currently have regulations addressing heat exposure in the agricultural industry, and the two primary prevention measures included in the current survey (namely, changing work hours and changing work activities) were uncommon. This is a concern, given the potential for heat-related illnesses to turn fatal. These findings suggest that while working in extreme heat, the use of strategies to reduce exposure or prevent heat illness varies by H-2A worker status. In this survey, the adaptive strategies were reported less frequently among H-2A workers, as were the symptoms of heat illness.
This study has limitations that should be considered when interpreting the findings and developing future research. The survey did not include information about the frequency, severity, timing, or geographic location of the exposure or the heat-related symptoms. These data and information about workplace safety practices and access to medical attention would yield useful information with which to assess causal associations among working conditions, prevention strategies, and heat illness. Information about specific work-related changes and validation of this information would provide insight into the extent to which workers and their supervisors view hot weather as a dangerous condition. Improvements in the ascertainment or verification of individual heat-related symptoms would improve the sensitivity and specificity of the definition of heat illness.
Men and women working in the agricultural industry work long hours, and those who work outdoors are likely to work in intensely hot and humid weather conditions that place them at risk of exertional and classic heat illness. The current data suggest a need for more information about the working conditions of populations working in environments or conditions that place them at risk of heat illness and improvements in our understanding of the functional consequences of these working conditions. These findings also indicate an urgent need for rigorous research of hypotheses about strategies to reduce workers’ exposure to extreme heat, acclimatization to hot and humid conditions in agricultural work environments, and
Discussion.
Nearly 94% of the surveyed population reported working in extreme heat. Despite not having information about in which other geographic regions the participants may have worked in the past, this high percentage is unsurprising given that the participants were farmworkers interviewed in a region where hot and humid conditions are common throughout the summertime. Of these respondents, nearly all reported drinking more water or taking breaks in shaded areas while working. North Carolina does not currently have regulations addressing heat exposure in the agricultural industry, and the two primary prevention measures included in the current survey (namely, changing work hours and changing work activities) were uncommon. This is a concern, given the potential for heat-related illnesses to turn fatal. These findings suggest that while working in extreme heat, the use of strategies to reduce exposure or prevent heat illness varies by H-2A worker status. In this survey, the adaptive strategies were reported less frequently among H-2A workers, as were the symptoms of heat illness.
This study has limitations that should be considered when interpreting the findings and developing future research. The survey did not include information about the frequency, severity, timing, or geographic location of the exposure or the heat-related symptoms. These data and information about workplace safety practices and access to medical attention would yield useful information with which to assess causal associations among working conditions, prevention strategies, and heat illness. Information about specific work-related changes and validation of this information would provide insight into the extent to which workers and their supervisors view hot weather as a dangerous condition. Improvements in the ascertainment or verification of individual heat-related symptoms would improve the sensitivity and specificity of the definition of heat illness.
Men and women working in the agricultural industry work long hours, and those who work outdoors are likely to work in intensely hot and humid weather conditions that place them at risk of exertional and classic heat illness. The current data suggest a need for more information about the working conditions of populations working in environments or conditions that place them at risk of heat illness and improvements in our understanding of the functional consequences of these working conditions. These findings also indicate an urgent need for rigorous research of hypotheses about strategies to reduce workers’ exposure to extreme heat, acclimatization to hot and humid conditions in agricultural work environments, and
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