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Precarious Essential Work, Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers, and Occupational Health Experiences in Vermont

Author

Listed:
  • Bindu Panikkar

    (Bindu Panikkar, Environmental Studies Program and the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 81 Carrigan Dr., Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Mary-Kate Barrett

    (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Vermont, 146 University Place, Morril Hall, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

Abstract

Migrant dairy workers in Vermont face a wide range of occupational and health hazards at work. This research examines the environmental risks, occupational health hazards, and health outcomes experienced by migrant dairy farm workers in Vermont. This research draws on a triangulation of sources including analysis of data—surveys and interviews with migrant dairy farmworkers gathered by the organization Migrant Justice since 2015 as well as relevant key informant interviews with community organizations across the state to characterize the occupational health experiences of migrant dairy workers in Vermont. Our results show that Vermont migrant dairy farmworkers received poor health and safety training and lacked sufficient protective gear. Over three quarters of the respondents reported experiencing harm from chemical and biological risks. Close to half the survey respondents reported headaches, itchy eyes and cough; a quarter reported breathing difficulties; three fourths reported being hurt by animal-related risks. These exposures and existing health concerns are avoidable. Migrant workers require better social representation and advocates to negotiate better work-related protection and training, access to health services, and social welfare to ensure their health and safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Bindu Panikkar & Mary-Kate Barrett, 2021. "Precarious Essential Work, Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers, and Occupational Health Experiences in Vermont," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3675-:d:528272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pirie, A. & Gute, D.M., 2013. "Crossing the chasm of mistrust: Collaborating with immigrant populations through community organizations and academic partners," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(12), pages 2126-2130.
    2. Jill Harrison & Christy Getz, 2015. "Farm size and job quality: mixed-methods studies of hired farm work in California and Wisconsin," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(4), pages 617-634, December.
    3. Daniel Baker, 2013. "Latino dairy workers in Vermont," Communities and Banking, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, issue Spring, pages 5-7.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elise Pohl & Sang-Ryong Lee, 2024. "Local and Global Public Health and Emissions from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in the USA: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Ornwipa Thamsuwan & Kit Galvin & Pablo Palmandez & Peter W. Johnson, 2023. "Commonly Used Subjective Effort Scales May Not Predict Directly Measured Physical Workloads and Fatigue in Hispanic Farmworkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Athena K. Ramos & Suraj Adhikari & Aaron M. Yoder & Risto H. Rautiainen, 2021. "Occupational Injuries among Latino/a Immigrant Cattle Feedyard Workers in the Central States Region of the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.

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