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. 2014 Aug;57(8):881-95.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.22357. Epub 2014 Jun 20.

Heat-related illness in Washington State agriculture and forestry sectors

June T Spector  1 , Jennifer Krenz, Edmund Rauser, David K Bonauto
Affiliations

Heat-related illness in Washington State agriculture and forestry sectors

June T Spector et al. Am J Ind Med. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Background: We sought to describe heat-related illness (HRI) in agriculture and forestry workers in Washington State.

Methods: Demographic and clinical Washington State Fund workers' compensation agriculture and forestry HRI claims data (1995-2009) and Washington Agriculture Heat Rule citations (2009-2012) were accessed and described. Maximum daily temperature (Tmax) and Heat Index (HImax) were estimated by claim date and location using AgWeatherNet's weather station network.

Results: There were 84 Washington State Fund agriculture and forestry HRI claims and 60 Heat Rule citations during the study period. HRI claims and citations were most common in crop production and support subsectors. The mean Tmax (HImax) was 95°F (99°F) for outdoor HRI claims. Potential HRI risk factors and HRI-related injuries were documented for some claims.

Conclusions: Agriculture and forestry HRI cases are characterized by potential work-related, environmental, and personal risk factors. Further work is needed to elucidate the relationship between heat exposure and occupational injuries.

Keywords: agricultural workers; farm workers; forestry workers; heat exhaustion; heat stroke; heat-related illness; workers' compensation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: All authors have read the manuscript, agree that the work is ready for submission to a journal, accept responsibility for the manuscript’s contents, and report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Washington State Fund agriculture and forestry workers’ compensation heat-related illness (HRI) claims and claims incidence rates by year, 1995–2009
Black bars: number of HRI claims; Solid line: annual HRI claims incidence rates per 100,000 full-time equivalents (FTE); Dotted line: annual third quarter (July, August, and September dates of injury) HRI claims rates; triangles above bars: years characterized by severe claims (inpatient hospital admissions but not deaths); Asterisk above bar: year in which a death occurred.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Washington State Fund agriculture and forestry workers’ compensation heat-related illness (HRI) claims by month of injury, 1995–2009
Gray bars: outdoor; Black bars: indoor.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Washington State Fund agriculture and forestry workers’ compensation heat-related illness (HRI) claims by hour of day, 1995–2009
Gray bars: outdoor; Black bars: indoor
Figure 4
Figure 4. Mean daily maximum temperature for outdoor Washington State Fund agriculture and forestry workers’ compensation heat-related illness (HRI) claims by month, 1995–2009
Black line: mean daily maximum temperature (Tmax); vertical bars: +/- 1 standard deviation; open circles: Tmax values greater or less than one standard deviation from the mean Tmax. Fourteen outdoor claims missing temperature data.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Geographical distribution of Washington State Fund agriculture and forestry workers’ compensation heat-related illness (HRI) claims by county of injury, 1995–2009
Darker gray indicates a higher number of claims; six claims missing information on location of injury.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Washington Agriculture Heat Rule citations by year, 2009–2012
Gray bars: all violations; Black bars: number of unique businesses (by business location) with violations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Bonauto D, Anderson R, Rauser E, Burke B. Occupational heat illness in Washington State, 1995–2005. Am J Ind Med. 2007;50(12):940–950. - PubMed
    1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. 2011 http://www.bls.gov/iif. Accessed 10/18/13.
    1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012–2013 Edition, Career guide to industries: Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. 2012 http://www.bls.gov/ooh/about/career-guide-to-industries.htm. Accessed 10/18/13.

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