Overview of immigrant worker occupational health and safety for the agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AgFF) sector in the southeastern United States

Abstract

Background: Manual labor in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF) Sector is provided primarily by immigrant workers. Limited information is available that documents the demographic characteristics of these manual workers, the occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities they experience; or the risk factors to which they are exposed.

Methods: A working conference of experts on occupational health in the AgFF Sector was held to address information limitations. This paper provides an overview of the conference. Other reports address organization of work, health outcomes, healthcare access, and safety policy.

Contents: This report addresses how best to define the population and the AgFF Sector, occupational exposures for the sector, data limitations, characteristics of immigrant workers, reasons for concern for immigrant workers in the AgFF Sector, regulations, a conceptual model for occupational health, and directions for research and intervention.

Keywords: agriculture; fishing; forestry; health disparities; immigrant workers; migrant workers; minority health.