0229 Risk of heat related illness in latino agricultural workers: core body temperature and work task

• Autor: Castro, Javier ; Mitchell, Diane ; Armitage, Tracey ; Schenker, Marc
• Assuntos: Accelerometers ; Agriculture ; Body temperature ; Classification ; Criteria ; Environmental monitoring ; Farming ; Farms ; Farmworkers ; Heat ; Heat stress ; Heat tolerance ; Hypothermia ; Occupational exposure ; Risk analysis ; Risk factors ; Statistical analysis ; Temperature effects
• É parte de: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), 2017-08, Vol.74 (Suppl 1), p.A68
• Descrição: IntroductionEnvironmental heat and work-rate are risk factors for Heat Related Illness (HRI). Work-rate by task and core temperature have not been quantified in California farmworkers.MethodsFarmworkers were monitored for one work-shift each in the summers of 2014–2015. Individuals’ core temperature was assessed throughout the shift using an ingestible sensor, a 3 min moving average computed and maximum temperature identified. Accelerometers were worn, and NHANES criteria used to classify counts per minute (cpm) into sedentary, low, moderate and vigorous activity. Daily work-rate was categorised by the number of minutes spent in moderate and/or vigorous activity (<30, 30 to 90,>90). Questionnaires administered in Spanish collected occupational tasks conducted and self-rated environmental heat exposure.Results499 Latina/o farmworkers performed only one task on their shift. The mean activity in cpm was highest for tree/vine harvesters 445 (SD 225) and lowest for produce sorters 193 (SD 167). 22 workers recorded a maximal core temperature >38.5°C, a criteria for heat stress in acclimatised workers. In a multivariable logistic regression high body temperature was associated with both the number of minutes working at a moderate/vigorous rate and self-rated environmental heat; OR and (95% CI) for ≥90 v<90 min high activity 3.6 (1.5–8.5). Irrigators were the only classification with statistically significant association with elevated core temperature; OR and (95% CI) 3.7 (1.4–9.6).ConclusionFarmworkers, who exceed 90 min a day in moderate/vigorous activity and/or irrigators, are at higher risk of HRI. These workers may need closer monitoring for their safety.
  
• Editor: London: BMJ Publishing Group LTD
  
• Idioma: Inglês