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. 2023 Jul 1;65(7):e458-e464.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002853. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

How Does Environmental Temperature Affect Farmworkers' Work Rates in the California Heat Illness Prevention Study?

Chelsea E Langer  1 , Tracey L Armitage, Stella Beckman, Daniel J Tancredi, Diane C Mitchell, Marc B Schenker
Affiliations

How Does Environmental Temperature Affect Farmworkers' Work Rates in the California Heat Illness Prevention Study?

Chelsea E Langer et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: Estimate the association between environmental temperature (wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT]) and work rate over the course of a workday.

Methods: Repeated-measures regression was used to identify characteristics impacting work rate in a cross-sectional study of Latino farmworkers. Minute-by-minute work rate (measured by accelerometer) and WBGT were averaged over 15-minute intervals.

Results: Work rate decreased by 4.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], -7.09 to -1.59) counts per minute per degree Celsius WBGT in the previous 15-minute interval. Cumulative quarter hours worked (2.13; 95% CI, 0.82 to 3.45), age (-3.64; 95% CI, -4.50 to -2.79), and dehydration at the end of workday (51.37; 95% CI, 19.24 to 83.50) were associated with counts per minute as were gender, pay type (piece rate vs hourly) and body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 . The effects of pay type and body mass index were modified by gender.

Conclusion: Increased temperature was associated with a decrease in work rate.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: D.J.T. received statistical consulting fees from Synbiotic Health, Inc, and International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. The other authors have none declared.

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