Why Greenhouse Workers Do Not Use Pesticide Protection Methods? A Qualitative Descriptive Case Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Agricultural Safety
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Greenhouse workers face higher pesticide exposure risks than other agricultural workers.
• This exposure contributes to significant global health issues and mortality.
• Implementing protective measures is crucial for mitigating these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors hindering greenhouse workers from using pesticide protective methods.
• To understand the perspectives of greenhouse workers on pesticide exposure avoidance.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive case study involving 20 greenhouse workers.
• Semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews.
• Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clark, 2021).

Main Results:

• Three primary themes and ten sub-themes identified regarding avoidance of protective methods.
• Obstacles include personal factors (neglect, lack of info, time), environmental conditions (heat, humidity, mud), and PPE issues (comfort, allergies, cost).

Conclusions:

• Training, monitoring, and policy interventions can enhance the adoption of protective methods.
• Findings are applicable locally and internationally to improve greenhouse worker health and safety.