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.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Vermont, 146 University Place, Morril Hall, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 1;18(7):3675. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073675.
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.
佛蒙特州的移民奶农在工作中面临着广泛的职业和健康危害。本研究考察了佛蒙特州移民奶农所经历的环境风险、职业健康危害和健康结果。本研究借鉴了多种来源的三角分析，包括自 2015 年以来移民正义组织收集的移民奶农调查和访谈数据，以及与全州社区组织的相关重点知情人访谈，以描述佛蒙特州移民奶农的职业健康体验。我们的研究结果表明，佛蒙特州的移民奶农接受的健康和安全培训很差，缺乏足够的防护设备。超过四分之三的受访者报告说曾遭受化学和生物风险的伤害。近一半的调查受访者报告头痛、眼睛发痒和咳嗽；四分之一的人报告呼吸困难；四分之三的人报告说曾因与动物有关的风险而受伤。这些暴露和现有的健康问题是可以避免的。移民工人需要更好的社会代表和倡导者，以谈判更好的工作相关保护和培训、获得医疗服务和社会福利，以确保他们的健康和安全。
