Latinx Farmworkers in the Eastern United States: Health, Safety, and Justice

1. The health and safety of farmworkers in the eastern US: A continuing need to focus on social justice (Arcury, Quandt)

This chapter provides the rationale for addressing the health and safety of Latinx migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the eastern US as a justice issue. It provides an introduction to the volume and a summary of the chapters.

This chapter provides a description of Latinx farmworkers in the eastern US, summarizing statistical sources (e.g., US Census of Agriculture, US Department of Commerce) and the general literature on their number, demographic characteristics, and living conditions (migrant housing). Although remaining largely Latinx over the past three decades, many characteristics of the farmworker population have continued to change during the past decade. For example, all farmworkers are contingent workers, but due to political forces and an increase in year-round agricultural production in some places, fewer are migrant workers and more are seasonal workers. Among those who migrate, a growing number have temporary H-2A work visas, which limits the number accompanied by their partners and children. More seasonal workers have children who are US citizens. Understanding the current characteristics of the Latinx farmworker population is essential to improving occupational justice through workplace health and safety policy and improving access to health care.

3. Occupational injuries and illnesses of farmworkers in the eastern US (Arcury, Quandt, Rhodes, Arnold)

This chapter provides an overview of the occupational injuries and illnesses experienced by Latinx farmworkers in the eastern US, and the processes (policy, regulations, organization of work) needed to reduce the rates of injuries and illnesses. Some injuries and illnesses, including heat stress, musculoskeletal disorders, pesticide poisoning, and trauma, are common across agricultural work. Heat stress may be exacerbated by climate change. Other injuries and illness, such as infectious diseases, stress, and mental illness, are more specific to farmworkers due to crowded housing and separation from families. Nicotine poisoning (green tobacco sickness) is specific to the eastern US, where tobacco is produced. Understanding the current types and levels of occupational injury and illness of the Latinx farmworker population is essential to improving occupational justice through workplace health and safety policy and improving access to health care.

4. Occupational health, safety, and context of dairy and livestock workers (Sexsmith)

Dairy operations require a daily work commitment throughout the year. Many dairy farmers are aging, and finding American workers for this demanding work is difficult. Many dairy farms have hired Latinx workers to meet their labor needs. Similarly, many poultry and hog confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) (referred to as factory farms) require difficult labor that many American workers do not want. This chapter details the work conditions encountered by these dairy, poultry, and livestock workers; the health and safety of these workers; and changes needed to ensure their occupational justice.

5. Women farmworkers and women in farmworker families (Sandberg, Trejo)

Almost one-third of farmworkers are women. Many women have partners who are farmworkers or live in families with farmworkers; these women may also work outside the home. In addition to any paid employment, these women