Cooling Interventions Among Agricultural Workers: A Pilot Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chicas R ; Elon L ; Hertzberg V ; McCauley L ; Scammell MK ; Steenland, Kyle ; Xiuhtecutli N
• Description:
  Background: Adverse health effects among agricultural workers due to chronic heat exposure have been characterized in the literature as not only due to high ambient temperatures but also due to intensive manual labor in hot and humid conditions. The aim of this study was to use biomonitoring equipment to examine the effectiveness of selected cooling devices at preventing agricultural workers from exceeding the core body temperature threshold of 38.0 degrees C (Tc38) and attenuating heat-related illness symptoms. Methods: A convenience sample of 84 agricultural workers in Florida was randomized to one of four groups: (a) no intervention, clothing as usual; (b) cooling bandana; (c) cooling vest; and (d) both the cooling bandana and cooling vest. Biomonitoring equipment worn by the participants included core body temperature monitor and an accelerometer to capture physical activity. Findings: A total of 78 agricultural workers completed one intervention workday trial. Compared with the control group, the bandana group had lower odds of exceeding Tc38 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.7, 90% confidence interval [CI] = [0.2, 3.2]) and the vest group had higher odds of exceeding Tc38 (OR = 1.8, 90% CI = [0.4, 7.9]). The simultaneous use of cooling vest and bandana showed an effect little different from the control group (OR = 1.3, 90% CI = [0.3, 5.6]). Conclusion/Application to Practice: This is the first field-based study to examine cooling intervention among agricultural workers in the United States using biomonitoring equipment. This study found that using a bandana while working in a hot agricultural environment has the potential to be protective against exceeding the recommended Tc38 threshold. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Workers Author Keywords: Agricultural Workers Body Temperature Cooling Interventions Cooling Systems Core Body Temperature Heat-related Illness Heat Exposure Heat Stress Hot Environments Intervention Effectiveness Outdoor Workers Protective Clothing

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• ISSN:
  2165-0799
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement ; Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; Georgia ; Louisiana ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  315-322
• Volume:
  69
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070675
• Citation:
  Workplace Health Saf 2021 Jul; 69(7):315-322
• Contact Point Address:
  Roxana Chicas, PhD, RN, Renal Division, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
• Email:
  rchicas@emory.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Florida, Gainesville
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20160930
• Source Full Name:
  Workplace Health & Safety
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:80c8e4d29e0d2387853dfd7ad4898cc64ff8999858c03f2d4b2069cfd15652fe417563b03fff74e8b886d18adfb06369f861123aea496ad911b0348e38b93b49
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208851/cdc_208851_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 148.29 KB ]