Work Safety Climate, Heat-Related Illness, and Potential Pesticide Exposure Among Latino Farmworker Adolescents and Young Adults in Arizona

INTRODUCTION: Latino farmworker adolescents and young adults (FW-AYA) face risks related to work safety climate (WSC) and occupational risks, including heat-related illness (HRI) and potential pesticide exposure (PE). This study describes the HRI, potential PE, and WSC realities of the Latino FW-AYA population in Arizona, correlates the HRI, PE, and WSC, and examines their associations with FW-AYA personal and work characteristics. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of FW-AYA in Arizona from February 2023 to January 2024 (N=180; 72.2% born in Mexico; 100% Mexican descent; age range = 16-25 years; 42% migrant workers). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and chi-square tests were used to examine the prevalence and associations of WSC, HRI, and PE among FW-AYA. RESULTS: A total of 48.9% of FW-AYA indicated taking risks was part of their job; 33.3% expressed a high probability of injury at work in the next 12 months. 57.3% reported at least one HRI symptom, and 30% of FW-AYA worked in the sight of fields with pesticide or fertilizer application. Age, hours worked per day and per week, and provider of own welfare were associated with HRI; hours worked per day and per week, provider of own welfare, and remittance were associated with PE. Remittance and family financial dependency to meet basic needs were associated with WSC. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for employers to improve the quality of WSC, HRI, and PE training for FW-AYA and to raise awareness of personal and family factors that may affect FW-AYAs' ability to detect HRI symptoms and potential PE.