Protecting farmworkers against extreme heat
Chicas says that because many farmworkers come from Latin America (63%) and are undocumented in nearly half of cases, it is difficult for them to voice their concerns about the conditions at work. Workers are usually careful not to draw attention that “may jeopardize their livelihoods.”
They’re more likely to do so if they’re backed up by an organization like the Farmworker Association of Florida, which organizes agricultural workers in the state. FWAF and the Emory Program have been working together for over a decade. They recruit farmworkers who will participate in studies, as well as guide them. Ernesto Ruiz is the research coordinator for FWAF. He says that there’s a “lot of trust” among those involved in this program. Ruiz says that there was a wait list for the data collection project in Florida last year because of the high level of interest. Participants had to get up early to participate, even though they had a long workday ahead of them. Participants also received information about their blood sugar levels, cholesterol, HDL and LDL, as well as triglycerides. Ruiz says that these readings “[them] do not serve any purpose in terms of being a predictor variable for heat-related injuries.” However, community members asked for the additional screenings as farmworkers often have limited access to health care. If health issues are found during the study, FWAF will work to connect workers to health-care providers or free or low-cost clinics.[their]”Community-based participatory research can’t just be extractive, eliciting data and narratives,” Ruiz says. It has to be reciprocal.” Ruiz: “We must be able document empirically and with non-controversial proof, the brutal conditions farmworkers face, and the toll that it takes on their body.” Only five states have heat standards. There can be obstacles for areas that want to add protections. In Florida, for example, after Miami-Dade County proposed heat protection standards for outdoor workers, the state passed legislation preventing localities from issuing their own heat rules, pointing to the impact such standards could have on employers.
Meanwhile, temperatures continue to rise. Chicas says that workers are “constantly and chronically” exposed in an environment lacking protective standards. The sensor could provide its own protection. Kalena Thomhave, a Pittsburgh-based freelance journalist, is an expert on heat.
