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Background: In 2019, grounds maintenance work was ranked among the most dangerous jobs in the United States. The objective of this study was to provide a national profile of fatal injuries of grounds maintenance workers., Methods: Data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Current Population Survey were analyzed to determine grounds maintenance worker fatality rates and rate ratios during 2016-2020., Results: During the 5-year study period, a total of 1064 deaths, or average fatality rate of 16.64 deaths per 100,000 full-time employees (FTEs) was identified in grounds maintenance workers compared to 3.52 deaths per 100,000 FTEs for all occupational worker deaths in the United States. The incidence rate ratio was 4.72 per 100,000 FTEs [95% CI: 4.44-5.02; p < 0.0001]. The primary events or exposures that led to work-related deaths were transportation incidents (28.0%), falls (27.3%), contact with objects and equipment (22.8%), and traumatic acute exposures to harmful substances or environments (17.9%). Black or African American workers had higher death rates, while Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for over one-third of all occupational-related fatalities., Conclusions: Each year, fatal work injury rates were consistently nearly five times higher among those employed in grounds maintenance work than all US worker fatalities. Wide-ranging safety intervention and prevention measures are needed to protect workers. Future research efforts should employ methods that include qualitative approaches to gain a better understanding of worker's perspectives and employer's operational work practices to mitigate risks that contribute to these high work-related fatalities., (© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Little research has addressed the safety environment of child farmworkers. This analysis examines the work safety culture experienced by Latinx child farmworkers in North Carolina., Methods: Survey interviews were conducted in 2017 with 202 Latinx children aged 10 to 17 years employed on North Carolina farms. Analysis included measures of the behavioral, situational, and psychological elements of work safety culture., Results: The work culture on North Carolina farms employing Latinx child farmworkers places limited value on safety. Behaviorally, many did not wear appropriate work clothing (e.g., 47.5% wore gloves, 37.1% wore boots). Situationally, few received safety training for tools (40.6%), machinery (24.3%), or pesticides (26.0%); about one-third (33.7%) had worked piece-rate; and many did not have field sanitation services available (e.g., 37.1% had water for washing, 19.8% had soap). Safety attitudes were mixed, and work safety climate was low, with 21.8% stating that their supervisor was only interested in doing the job fast and cheaply. Greater safety training, field sanitation services, and work safety climate were associated with working in western North Carolina, migrant workers, limited English fluency, and working in tomatoes. Wearing appropriate work clothing, not working piece-rate, fewer unsafe work attitudes were associated with working in eastern North Carolina, seasonal worker, speaking English, and working in tobacco., Conclusions: This research makes it apparent that efforts are needed to improve safety culture wherever child farmworkers are employed. Current policy is not providing a safe environment for children working on farms in the United States., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Background: Although children as young as 10 years can work in agriculture, little research has addressed their occupational health. This paper describes a large, multicomponent study of hired Latinx child farmworkers, and the characteristics of children participating in this study., Methods: Survey interviews were conducted in 2017 with 202 Latinx children aged 10-17 years employed in agriculture across North Carolina (NC)., Results: Most (81.2%) participants were born in the United States, 37.6% were female, and 21.3% were aged 10-13 years. Most (95.1%) were currently enrolled in school. Thirty-six (17.8%) were migrant workers. 34.7% had worked in agriculture for 1 year; 18.3% had worked 4+ years. 33.7% worked piece rate. 57.4% worked in tobacco. Participants in western NC differed in personal and occupational characteristics from those in eastern NC., Conclusions: This study has enrolled a large and diverse child farmworker sample. This overview indicates several important issues for further analysis., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Adolescents and young adults have higher injury rates than their adult counterparts in similar jobs. This study used the working college student population to assess health and safety hazards in the workplace, characterize related occupational diseases and injuries, and describe worker health/safety activities provided by employers., Methods: College students (≥17 years old) were assessed via online surveys about work history, workplace exposure to hazards, occupational diseases/injuries, and workplace health/safety activities., Results: Approximately half (51%) of participants (n = 1,147) were currently employed at the time of the survey or had been employed while enrolled in college. Restaurants (other than fast food) were the most frequently reported work setting. The most reported workplace hazards included noise exposure and contact with hot liquids/surfaces. Twenty percent of working students experienced injury at work; some injuries were severe enough to limit students' normal activities for >3 days (30%) or require medical attention (44%). Men had significantly higher prevalence of injuries (P = 0.05) and near-misses (P < 0.01) at work than women. Injury occurrence was associated with near-misses (AOR = 5.08, P < 0.01) and co-worker injuries (AOR = 3.19, P < 0.01) after gender and age adjustments. Most (77%) received worker safety training and half were given personal protective equipment (PPE) by their employers., Conclusions: Risk reduction from workplace injuries and illnesses among working college students may be achieved by implementing occupational health and safety (OHS) strategies including incorporation of OHS in the college curriculum, promotion of OHS by university/college student health services, and improving awareness of OHS online resources among college students, employers, and educators., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)