Farmworker reports of pesticide safety and sanitation in the work environment

Background Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are at risk for occupational il lnesses from pesticide exposure, and the effectiveness of pesticide safety regulations has not been evaluated. It is important to learn from farmworke r safety experiences to develop effective measures to improve agricultural workplace safety. Methods Formative research included in-depth interviews with farmworkers, f armers, extension agents, and health car providers. Survey research include d interviews with 270 minority farmworkers during 1998, and 293 during 1999 . Results Farmworkers and farmers hold different beliefs concerning pesticide safety which affect sanitation practices. Farmworkers report in survey dat a that farmers do not adhere to regulations mandating training and basic sa nitation facilities. Conclusions Several points of intervention are available to improve pestici de safety and sanitation. Additional regulation by itself is not an advanta geous starting point. The emphasis for intervention must include educating farmers as well as farmworkers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:487-498, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.