Real-time COVID-19 Education to Reduce Workplace Risks: Thematic Analysis of a COVID-19 Agricultural Employer Webinar Series.

OBJECTIVES: California's agricultural industry, an "essential industry" during the COVID-19 pandemic, required support to understand and implement changing public health knowledge and regulations in the workplace. The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) transitioned from traditional in-person trainings with agricultural stakeholders to remote engagement, such as webinars. We aimed to assess the use of real-time webinar trainings and identify agricultural employer concerns about reducing the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. METHODS: We conducted a thematic analysis of webinar chat from WCAHS' "Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 in Your Workplace" monthly webinar series held from December 2020-May 2021. De-identified chat transcripts were analyzed using a deductive approach to assess participant concerns as they related to prevention and response actions, employer responsibilities, and evolving public health knowledge. Codes were identified by an iterative process using semantic interpretation and summarized into four major themes. RESULTS: Our analysis reveals participants' concerns relating to (1) prevention of COVID-19 in the workplace, (2) response to COVID-19 in the workplace, (3) employer concerns, and (4) evolving, real-time knowledge. Participants shared multiple, overlapping concerns. Many also asked for information tailored to specific scenarios in their workplace. CONCLUSION: Providing industry-specific guidance and examples in an accessible means is critical for supporting agricultural employers and their highly vulnerable workers. Virtual trainings will likely continue to be an effective means of outreach with the agricultural industry. Future outreach and education efforts should consider virtual engagement and opportunities to document experiences amid changing work environments, social cultures, and learning activities.

Wildfire Smoke Exposure: Awareness and Safety Responses in the Agricultural Workplace.

Objective: The study examines how wildfire smoke exposure may impact health and safety in the agricultural workplace. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with agricultural employers and focus group discussions were held with farmworkers in three regions of California. Results: Agricultural employers had varying knowledge about and experience responding to poor air quality due to wildfire smoke. Respirators or masks were not mentioned as a potential protective measure when describing their safety practices. Farmworkers reported experiencing poor air quality due to wildfire smoke, although knowledge of safety precautions varied. Farmworkers reported employer and supervisors' attitudes toward safety as having the greatest impact on the implementation of workplace safety measures. Conclusion: Adapting health promotion and workplace safety strategies to meet the multiple vulnerabilities and diverse needs of farmworkers is critical to successful implementation of workplace protection and safety measures. Given limited familiarity with the topic, wildfire smoke exposure resources are needed to assist employers and supervisors in their compliance with a new wildfire smoke safety regulation in California. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore agricultural employer and farmworker perceptions of the health and safety impacts of wildfire smoke and workplace exposure.

Pasos Saludables: A Pilot Randomized Intervention Study to Reduce Obesity in an Immigrant Farmworker Population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a workplace-based diet and physical activity intervention to reduce obesity in a Latino farmworker population. METHODS: 254 Latino farmworkers were allocated in a 1:2 control:intervention ratio to parallel groups in this randomized controlled study, [Clinical Trial ID# NCT01855282]. Intervention participants attended 10 weekly educational sessions led by promotoras. All participants had anthropometry and lifestyle habits recorded before randomization and at follow-up after 12-14 weeks. RESULTS: Seventy percent (n = 112 intervention and 66 control) completed the study. Intervention females (not controls) decreased the primary outcome measures of weight, BMI, and waist circumference (mean [95% CI]) of -0.7 [-1.3 to -0.1] kg, -0.3 [-0.4 to -0.2] and -0.9 [-1.7 to -0.1] cm, respectively. Intervention participants increased water consumption, fruit and vegetable servings, and moderate physical activity in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSIONS: The successful pilot workplace intervention offers a model to reach otherwise difficult-to-access Latino farmworkers.

Pandemics and vaccines: perceptions, reactions, and lessons learned from hard-to-reach Latinos and the H1N1 campaign.

This paper examines knowledge, risk perception, and attitudes around the H1N1 pandemic among Latino hard-to-reach (HTR) populations in the United States. Ten focus groups were conducted throughout California (N=90), representing Latino immigrants disproportionately affected by H1N1: farmworkers, indigenous Mexicans, pregnant women, and children. Overall, participants were aware of the H1N1 epidemic and common prevention practices. However, many expressed doubts that the H1N1 outbreak constituted an epidemic because the U.S. media reports of the epidemic in Mexico did not match reports from participants' families in Mexico and because of participants' absence of personal experience with the disease. Participants mistrusted the H1N1 vaccine due to its novelty, conspiracy theories, and inconsistent information. Study findings confirm that vaccination campaign strategies should reflect the diversity of meaning, experiences, and socio-economic realities among target populations. Key findings inform future emergency response activities targeting HTR Latino communities.