Occupational health policy and immigrant workers in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing sector

Details

• Personal Author:
  Arcury TA ; Fraser C ; Levin J ; Liebman AK ; Sidebottom J ; Wiggins MF
• Description:
  Background: Immigrant workers make up an important portion of the hired workforce in the Agricultural, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) sector, one of the most hazardous industry sectors in the US. Despite the inherent dangers associated with this sector, worker protection is limited. Methods: This article describes the current occupational health and safety policies and regulatory standards in theAgFF sector and underscores the regulatory exceptions and limitations in worker protections. Immigration policies and their effects on worker health and safety are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on policies and practices in the Southeastern US. Results: Worker protection in the AgFF sector is limited. Regulatory protections are generally weaker than other industrial sectors and enforcement of existing regulations is woefully inadequate. The vulnerability of the AgFF workforce is magnified by worker immigration status. Agricultural workers in particular are affected by a long history of "exceptionalism" under the law as many regulatory protections specifically exclude this workforce. Conclusions: A vulnerable workforce and high-hazard industries require regulatory protections that, at a minimum, are provided to workers in other industries. A systematic policy approach to strengthen occupational safety and health in the AgFF sector must address both immigration policy and worker protection regulations. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Emigration And Immigration Farmers Forestry Hunting Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Industry Author Keywords: Immigrant Workers Farm Workers Farmworkers Fishing Fishing Industry Forestry Forestry Workers Health Disparities Health Policy Immigrant Workers Migrant Workers Minority Health Occupational Health Disparities Occupational Policy Policy

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  56
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042975
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2013 Aug; 56(8):975-984
• Contact Point Address:
  Thomas A. Arcury, PhD, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine Medical, Center, Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084
• Email:
  tarcury@wakehealth.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Wake Forest University Health Sciences - Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20100401
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20210331
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2923791c304afacaf2f8ed688746e7918fdb19f38d6be9bd310c4ddf37a0438151e5d68f7156eb3224c2fc7d4f6ca2b0040a48c045543ac3be07ce346411264f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/195020/cdc_195020_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 132.84 KB ]