Agriculture and Climate Change Impacts on Workers' Health and Safety

 描述(申请人提供)：气候变化在这里，预计将导致环境的戏剧性变化，特别是增加炎热，灰尘和过敏原事件。目前，关于气候变化对农民和农场工人职业风险的影响的论述很少。拉美裔移民至少占加州农业劳动力的85%。如果对这些脆弱人群中气候引起的健康风险的性质和程度没有基本的了解，就无法实施有效的公共卫生干预措施。此外，由于社会或心理社会因素，这些群体在农业部门经历了不成比例的职业伤害和疾病，这导致工作场所暴露和易感性增加。该项目的总体目标是了解农场工人和农民/农场劳务承包商对气候变化的知识水平和看法，以便利益攸关方更好地了解将越来越多地影响 农业环境。我们的目标是获得关于广泛的社区气候变化经验的定量和定性数据，以改善健康结果。这项研究将在加利福尼亚州的圣华金山谷进行，因为这是一个主要的农业区，已经经历了长时间的高温和空气污染。该项目有三个目标。在具体目标1中，将评估关于气候变化的知识、态度、信念和报告的行为，以及由于空气质量差、极端高温和干旱而造成的对职业健康和安全危害的影响。将通过关键线人访谈、焦点小组和问卷调查，在包括农场工人、农民和农场劳务承包商在内的广泛利益攸关方中检查知识和看法。在具体目标2中，将建立和召集气候变化问题研究人员和监管机构(如国家机构)的联盟，具体确定三年内对农业、健康、疾病和安全的可能影响(例如对机械、安全系统的影响)，以协调信息、提供最新情况并确定可能的职业健康和安全影响。最后，在具体目标3中，调查结果将启动针对农业社区的适应和教育方案的翻译开发，以提高对适当做法的认识，以减少气候变化导致的安全和健康减少和疾病的风险(R2P：从研究到实践)。将通过下列产出衡量研究成效：出版物、报告、年度社区论坛会议记录、演示文稿/海报、调查员职业发展、工具、准则、建议以及编写教育和培训材料。所衡量的成果可能包括基于项目产出和文献引用的公共或私人政策变化、培训或讲习班。这项研究涉及以下NIOSH/NORA跨部门计划：暴露评估、职业健康差异、通过设计进行预防以及全球合作以减少农业工人中的气候引起的疾病。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Climate change is here and is predicted to cause dramatic changes in the environment, especially increased episodes of heat, dust and allergens. Very little is being addressed at this time on the effects of climate change on occupational risks of farmers and farm workers. Latino immigrants make up at least 85% of the agricultural work force in California. Without a basic understanding of the nature and magnitude of climate-induced health risks in these vulnerable populations, effective public health interventions cannot be implemented. In addition these groups experience disproportionate rates of occupational injuries and illness within the agricultural sector because of social or psychosocial factors, which lead to increased workplace exposures and susceptibilities. The overall goal of this project is to understand the knowledge level and perceptions of both farm workers and farmers/farm labor contractors concerning climate change so that stakeholders can obtain a better understanding of the factors that will increasingly affect health and safety in the agricultural environment. Our goal is to obtain quantitative and qualitative data on broad community experiences with climate change to improve health outcomes. The research will take place in California's San Joaquin Valley because this is a major agricultural area that already experiences extended periods of high heat and air pollution. The project has three aims. In Specific Aim 1, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and reported behaviors regarding climate change and its effects on occupational health and safety hazards as a result of poor air quality, extreme heat temperatures and drought will be assessed. Knowledge and perceptions will be examined among a broad base of stakeholders, including farm workers, farmers, and farm labor contractors, using key informant interviews, focus groups and questionnaires. In Specific Aim 2, a coalition of researchers working on climate change and regulators (such as state agencies) will be established and convened to specifically determine possible effects on agriculture, health, disease and safety (e.g., effects on machinery, safety systems) over three years to coordinate information, provide updates and determine likely occupational health and safety effects. Lastly, in Specific Aim 3, findings will initiate translational development of adaptive an educational programs tailored to the agricultural community to increase the awareness of proper practices to reduce the risk climate-change induced safety and health decrements and disease (R2P: Research to Practice). Research effectiveness will be measured through the following outputs: publications, reports, annual community forum proceedings, presentations/posters, investigator career development, tools, guidelines, recommendations and development of educational and training materials. Outcomes measured may include public or private policy changes, trainings or workshops based on project outputs and citations in the literature. The study addresses the following NIOSH/NORA cross sector programs: exposure assessment, occupational health disparities, prevention through design and global collaborations to reduce climate-induced disease in agricultural workers.