"I Think the Temperature was 110 Degrees!": Work Safety Discussions Among Hispanic Farmworkers.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Agricultural Safety

Background:

• Heat-related illness (HRI) poses significant occupational risks for migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
• Current HRI mitigation strategies vary among individual workers and supervisors.
• Understanding farmworker perspectives on HRI prevention is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe farmworkers' experiences with HRI prevention strategies.
• To assess farmworkers' preferences for seeking HRI information.
• To evaluate the feasibility of using mobile phone applications for HRI information dissemination.

Main Methods:

• Conducted five focus groups with Hispanic farmworkers in South Carolina.
• Explored topics including risk perception, coping strategies, past HRI experiences, and water, rest, and shade practices.
• Assessed access to healthcare and employer-provided training.

Main Results:

• Farmworkers identified inexperienced or new workers as most vulnerable to HRIs.
• Responsibility for heat-related well-being was primarily viewed as an individual rather than an employer responsibility.
• Farmworkers responded positively to training on the OSHA Heat Safety Tool app, appreciating its educational content and warnings.

Conclusions:

• Mobile technology, such as apps, has potential for enhancing heat safety education for farmworkers.
• Supervisors could play a more active role in HRI prevention through mobile-based education.
• Future interventions should consider the feasibility and worker acceptance of mobile health tools for occupational safety.