Agricultural Health and Safety conference Using Past and Present to Map Future Actions

1. Agricultural Health and Safety conferenceUsing Past and Present to Map Future Actions Preliminary Report from the National Adolescent Farmworker OccupationalHealth & Safety Advisory Committee NAFOHSAC Martha S. Vela Acosta, MD, MS, PhD

2. Adolescent farmworkers’ challenges

3. Hired Adolescent Farmworkers Background • 128,000 hired teens 14-17 years old • Childhood agriculture injury data available reflects family farms • Socio-demographic differences • > 19 years old farmworker at increased risk • Men 4.5 fold increased compared to women • Migrants • 1/3 adult- follow the crop employment • 2/3 shuttle migrants • Emancipated Minors: Latino, males, & new to ag.

4. NAFOHSAC Definitions • Adolescent Farmworkerchildren from 12 through 17 years old who migrate to work in agriculture in one or more states, including people who work locally in seasonal agricultural jobs, but do not leave their permanent residence. • Migrationone who in the preceedings 24 months, had principal employment in agricultural on a seasonal basis and who moved to seek such employment.

5. Agriculture and Adolescent Farmworkers’s Occupational Risks Based on the Haddon Model, (Haddon and Baker, 1981)

6. NAFOHSAC • Purpose and Scope Generate specific recommendations for research, education, and programs addressing the occupational health and safety needs of migrant or seasonal farmworker adolescents (12 to 17 years) who are engaged in activities related to agriculture.

7. NAFOHSAC • Process • National Advisory Group • Information • From Adolescent Farmworkers, parents, teachers, agricultural employers, health professionals, researchers and others. • By site visits, focus groups. • In person meeting • Teleconference calls • Draft reviews

8. NAFOHSAC Calendar of Events 1999 2000 2001 Initial planning Preliminary group discussions Literature review Invite primary advisors Define scope & framework Meet in-person Draft content Conduct peer reviews Finalize content Reviewers Release report Disseminate Evaluate

9. NAFOHSAC GOALS • Identify agricultural occupational risks that are specific to adolescent farmworkers. Risk assessments are essential in order to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control the hazards in the adolescent farmworker work environment.

10. NAFOHSAC GOALS (cont.) • Plan, implement, and evaluate interventions to eliminate or minimize occupational health and safety risks of adolescent farmworkers.

11. NAFOHSAC GOALS (cont.) • Identify profiles of adolescent farmworkers who are employed in production agriculture across the United States. By knowing the characteristics of this unique workforce, resources can be targeted to specific locations, addressing definite problems with applicable approaches.

12. NAFOHSAC GOALS (cont.) • Establish a national, coordinated approach to address adolescent farmworkers’ occupational health and safety needs. A national coordinated approach will increase efficiency and equity across private and public sector initiatives.

13. Wish List for the Future of Adolescent Farmworkers • Research will generate meaningful information and adequate interventions. • Agricultural employers and migrant advocates will collaborate. • Agricultural employers will welcome researchers as a vehicle to direct resources and appropriate training. • Farmworker Adolescent Network (FAN) will become a reality. • We will be responsive to OHS needs of this increasing workforce. • New international policy agreements will promote H & S for adolescent farmworkers.

14. NAFOHSAC needs your input

15. Questions and THANK YOU!