Latino Thoroughbred Farm Worker Health and Safety

Principal Investigator

Jennifer E. Swanberg, PhD | Bio

Professor | School of Social Work

University of Maryland | Baltimore, MD

Co-Principal Investigator

Jessica Miller Clouser, MPH | Email

Research Associate | College of Public Health

University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY

Abstract

The Latino Thoroughbred Farm Worker Health and Safety (LTFW) sought to improve the occupational safety and health of Latino workers by reducing work organization hazards on horse farms.

Data were collected via surveys and in-depth interviews with horse farm representatives and through face-to-face surveys conducted by trained lay health promoters with 305 Latino farmworkers. The majority of workers on thoroughbred farms were Latino; among Latinos, the majority were married males, with an average age of 37 and an average of 15 years in the U.S. These workers are at high risk of occupational injury.

43 percent had experienced one in the past year, most of which were caused by routine horse-related tasks, musculoskeletal discomfort, sprains/strains, and injuries to the upper and lower extremities. In addition, workers were at risk for respiratory symptoms in excess of the general population. Numerous work factors were associated with worker occupational health: using dust masks infrequently was associated with respiratory symptoms; long work weeks, long tenure, and poor work safety climate were associated with musculoskeletal discomfort; and work-related stress, having an unfair supervisor, or a non-Spanish speaking supervisor were associated with serious injury in the past year.

This project was committed to reducing the impact of work organization factors by creating and disseminating educational materials. All materials have been disseminated locally and nationally through a media campaign targeting local and national equine and Latino worker-focused outlets. At the time of reporting, over 6,828 of these and other materials have been distributed to farms, tracks, and Latino outreach organizations. In addition, numerous farms have expressed their commitment to enacting new practices based on the materials and the recommendations therein (e.g., one farm now reimburses workers for their purchase of steel-toe boots).

Background

Agriculture is among the most dangerous industries for occupational injury and illness with fatality and injury rates seven times the national average. Within agriculture, animal production is particularly dangerous. The national rate for injury and illness among workers in animal production is 6.9 per 100, compared to 5.3 for all agricultural workers. Latino workers comprise the majority of farmworkers and often experience greater risk, making them a NIOSH priority. Although data on the degree to which Latino farmworkers experience occupational injuries and illnesses is limited, research indicates that Latino farmworkers are at high risk for fatality, injury and illness due to their disproportionate assignment to high-risk tasks; differences in work practices; inexperience; lack of information about health, safety and legal rights; linguistic and cultural barriers in communication and training; lack of enforcement of safety standards; and fears of retaliation associated with reporting unsafe working conditions.

Of the 2 million horse owners in the United States, 238,000 are involved in horse breeding. In 2007, the National Agricultural Statistics Survey reported a national inventory of 4,028,827 horses, 506,503 of which were sold in that year. Nationwide, horse breeding employs 460,000 full-time workers, with Latino and foreign-born workers representing over two-thirds of workers in animal handling and other front-line farm positions. Despite the critical role that horse production plays in many states’ agricultural economies, minimal research has assessed the health risks of its workers.

The few studies that have been conducted on worker health and hazardous conditions have mostly been conducted in foreign settings or with horse trainers or riding instructors. These studies suggest that hazards on horse farms include dusty work environments, animal kicks, bites and falls, and repetitive pulling on upper extremities. Although these studies have contributed greatly to our understanding of hazards present in horse production, none of them looked directly at Latino workers.

Kentucky ranks first in the nation for production of horses and ‘other animals’. As such, Kentucky offers access to a large number of horse farms, workers and supporting organizations.

Keywords:

Equine

Latino

Farmer Injury Prevention