Objective This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 534 farmers in the largest vegetable –producing area in the northern part of the Philippines. This study assessed ergonomic risk factors, and occupational health and safety conditions, among farmers exposed to multiple pesticides.

Methods Methods consisted of interviewer-guided survey questionnaires on pesticide use among farmers, agricultural safety risk factors associated with pesticide exposure, and physical health assessment. Subjects were selected using multi-stage random sampling, yielding a total of 534 farmers.

Results The majority of study subjects were males (53.3%), with a mean age of 47 years old. Occupational exposure accounted for major exposure (84.8%). Farmers often complained of headache (69.4%) and dizziness (41.0%) after their exposure to pesticides. As for common respiratory symptoms, farmers often complained of coughing (39.4%), difficulty of breathing (15.6%), breathlessness (14.9%) and having pulmonary secretions (13.3%). Farmers reported pesticide spills on their body parts while spraying (79%), and 49% complained of getting sick because of their work. Of those who got ill, 69.8% did not receive any medical attention. 40.9% of the farmers were diagnosed with abnormal physical examination findings and less than 10% of the farmers exhibited abnormal laboratory results.

Conclusion The results showed that farmers were exposed to pesticides while undertaking their agricultural work and that certain occupationally-related health symptoms manifested themselves. This underscores the need to improve protection measures so as to reduce the exposure of farmers to pesticides.