Heat exposure in central Florida fernery workers: results of a feasibility study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Economos E ; Flocks J ; Hertzberg VS ; Mac VVT ; McCauley LA ; Tovar-Aguilar JA
• Description:
  Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of field-based biomonitoring of heat-related illness (HRI) phenomena in Florida farmworkers. We determined feasibility through participant interviews regarding acceptability, data capture, recruitment and retention, and observed barriers and challenges to implementation. Methods: Study participants were employed in fernery operations in northeast Central Florida where ornamental ferns are grown and harvested in a seasonally high heat environment. In this pilot, a total of 43 farmworkers participated during summers 2012 and 2013 and measurements included: body core temperature, heart rate, energy expenditure, urine and blood osmolality, and self-reported HRI symptoms. Results: Data capture was 90%. Participants reported that the study methods were non-obtrusive to their work, and that they were comfortable with study measures. Conclusions: These results open possibilities for characterizing heat-related illness utilizing physiologic biomonitoring in vulnerable occupational groups. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Blood Cardiovascular System Demography Farmers Hematologic Tests Hot Temperature Men Occupational Health Safety Urine Women Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Agricultural Agricultural Workers Author Keywords: Biomonitoring Biomonitoring Blood Samples Body Temperature Demographic Characteristics Farm Workers Farmworkers Heart Rate Heat Heat-Related Illness Heat Exposure Humans Monitoring Systems Seasonal Activity Seasonal Factors Seasonal Workers Statistical Analysis Urinalysis Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; Georgia ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  89-99
• Volume:
  22
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049156
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2017 Apr; 22(2):89-99
• Contact Point Address:
  Valerie Vi Thien Mac, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road NE. Atlanta, Georgia 30322
• Email:
  valerie.mac@emory.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• End Date:
  20131231
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3aa8514d48941b2fc009692af74ca1c9f08c859848961caa51a76d727a686740bfcb4caff5948848c1d2267d7560776e07a74f5334a2254932d258e12af9022c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203706/cdc_203706_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1021.63 KB ]