Heat-related deaths among crop workers--United States, 1992--2006

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008 Jun 20;57(24):649-53.

Abstract

Workers employed in outdoor occupations such as farming are exposed to hot and humid environments that put them at risk for heat-related illness or death. This report describes one such death and summarizes heat-related fatalities among crop production workers in the United States during 1992--2006. During this 15-year period, 423 workers in agricultural and nonagricultural industries were reported to have died from exposure to environmental heat; 68 (16%) of these workers were engaged in crop production or support activities for crop production. The heat-related average annual death rate for these crop workers was 0.39 per 100,000 workers, compared with 0.02 for all U.S. civilian workers. Data aggregated into 5-year periods indicated that heat-related death rates among crop workers might be increasing; however, trend analysis did not indicate a statistically significant increase. Prevention of heat-related deaths among crop workers requires educating employers and workers on the hazards of working in hot environments, including recognition of heat-related illness symptoms, and implementing appropriate heat stress management measures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agriculture / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Heat Stress Disorders / mortality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / mortality*
  • United States / epidemiology