Health and safety training for immigrant dairy workers in the Upper Midwest

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Safety
• Occupational Health
• Immigrant Worker Health

Background:

• Dairy farming presents unique safety challenges, particularly for immigrant workers.
• A need exists for culturally and linguistically appropriate safety interventions in agricultural settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the "Seguridad en las Lecherías" curriculum among Hispanic immigrant dairy workers.
• To enhance safety knowledge, foster a safety culture, and identify community-specific challenges.

Main Methods:

• A bilingual (Spanish/English), 5-module curriculum approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was delivered.
• 360 Hispanic immigrant workers from 19 dairies in Minnesota and South Dakota participated.
• Pre- and post-assessments measured knowledge changes, supplemented by producer/manager feedback.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant increases in safety knowledge were observed after each training module.
• Positive feedback from producers and managers indicated improved safety awareness and behavior.
• Flexible implementation, including shift synchronization, was crucial for success.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive, culturally responsive safety training in workers' native language positively impacts dairy farm safety knowledge and practices.
• Reinforcing worker safety is vital for the sustainability and well-being of the dairy farming community.
• The "Seguridad en las Lecherías" curriculum demonstrates an effective model for improving occupational health in agricultural settings.