Occupational Injuries among Latino Immigrant Poultry and Manual Workers: Study Design and Descriptive statistics

BACKGROUND: Poultry processing workers have high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses. OSHA data are thought to be underestimates due to underreporting by companies and workers, many of whom are Latino. To try to obtain estimates of injuries and illnesses without depending on workplace access, we designed a study to sample workers from communities surrounding poultry plants to assess the prevalence and incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory disorders, and skin illnesses. This paper presents the design of the study and some characteristics of the participants. METHODS: Community based sampling was used to recruit 552 immigrant Latino workers evenly divided between poultry and manual workers from western North Carolina, and with equal numbers of males and females. Face to face interviews were conducted to obtain self-reported musculoskeletal, respiratory, and skin symptoms, as well as work characteristics and exposures. Study participants were also requested to undergo physical examinations. RESULTS: Most participants were between 18 and 30 yrs of age; 60% had 6 or fewer years of education; and 90% were from either Mexico or Guatemala. Poultry workers were more likely to report having discomfort in the past 7 days for back (27% vs. 16%) and forearm (17% vs. 11%), which were consistent with differences for the past month and year. More poultry workers than other manual workers reported some skin conditions, including urticaria, and symptoms such as itching. CONCLUSION: This study will allow a comprehensive description from both self-report and physical examination data of the health status of Latino poultry processing workers.