Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Occupational health and safety
COVID-19: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Accountability and Program Effectiveness of Federal Response
Discusses the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of federal actions on healthcare and economic policy areas through September 2021, including data on COVID-19 relief spending, testing, worker health and safety, and child nutrition programs. Offers 16 new recommendations to federal agencies regarding the proper use of relief funding, occupational health and safety, and fraud risks to unemployment insurance programs that would improve the federal response and preparation for future public health emergencies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of federal actions on healthcare and economic policy areas through September 2021, including data on COVID-19 relief spending, testing, worker health and safety, and child nutrition programs. Offers 16 new recommendations to federal agencies regarding the proper use of relief funding, occupational health and safety, and fraud risks to unemployment insurance programs that would improve the federal response and preparation for future public health emergencies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: Are Agricultural Workers at Greater Risk?
Results of a study examining whether long-term exposure to agricultural work is associated with dementia prevalence and the rate of cognitive change in older adulthood. Features demographics and statistics on various types of cognitive function.
Author(s): Kanika Arora, Lili Xu, Divya Bhagianadh
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(8), 1629–1643
Date: 09/2021
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Results of a study examining whether long-term exposure to agricultural work is associated with dementia prevalence and the rate of cognitive change in older adulthood. Features demographics and statistics on various types of cognitive function.
Author(s): Kanika Arora, Lili Xu, Divya Bhagianadh
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(8), 1629–1643
Date: 09/2021
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COVID-19 Working Paper: Meatpacking Working Conditions and the Spread of COVID-19
Report details the working conditions of meatpacking plants and how they affected the spread of COVID-19 during the first months of the pandemic. Compares manufacturing jobs in rural versus total counties and highlights specific rural counties where meatpacking plants were infected. Discusses occupational characteristics that may have contributed to the spread.
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel, Jr., Corey Goodrich
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Report details the working conditions of meatpacking plants and how they affected the spread of COVID-19 during the first months of the pandemic. Compares manufacturing jobs in rural versus total counties and highlights specific rural counties where meatpacking plants were infected. Discusses occupational characteristics that may have contributed to the spread.
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel, Jr., Corey Goodrich
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for the Veterans Health Administration
Guidance on the VA's vaccination program, which provides vaccinations for veterans and VA staff. Covers storage and handling, safety monitoring, reporting, education, and communication. Addresses risk stratification approaches to identify those at highest risk, including rural and minority veterans. Appendix P provides detailed information on planned outreach to rural veterans.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Guidance on the VA's vaccination program, which provides vaccinations for veterans and VA staff. Covers storage and handling, safety monitoring, reporting, education, and communication. Addresses risk stratification approaches to identify those at highest risk, including rural and minority veterans. Appendix P provides detailed information on planned outreach to rural veterans.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Agricultural Stakeholders' Perceptions of Occupational Health and Safety in the Southeastern U.S. Coastal States
Highlights the perception of eleven agricultural professionals in the southeast on the current state of agricultural health and safety. Discusses a number of factors affecting health and safety of agricultural workers, such as healthcare access, economic and labor issues, and cultural competency, among others. Features information pertaining to worker safety during COVID-19.
Author(s): Tracy Irani, Beatrice Fenelon Pierre, Tyler S. Nesbit
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6605
Date: 06/2021
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Highlights the perception of eleven agricultural professionals in the southeast on the current state of agricultural health and safety. Discusses a number of factors affecting health and safety of agricultural workers, such as healthcare access, economic and labor issues, and cultural competency, among others. Features information pertaining to worker safety during COVID-19.
Author(s): Tracy Irani, Beatrice Fenelon Pierre, Tyler S. Nesbit
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6605
Date: 06/2021
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Let's Talk About Mitigation Video
Recording of a June 29, 2021, webinar providing technical assistance regarding the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Funding program. Discusses reporting requirements and how program funds can be used. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a June 29, 2021, webinar providing technical assistance regarding the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Funding program. Discusses reporting requirements and how program funds can be used. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Characterization of Mental Illness Among US Coal Miners
Describe the prevalence of and risk factors for mental illness among 2,808 active and former coal miners from central Appalachia who received clinical care at Stone Mountain Health Services Black Lung Clinic between 2018-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by degree of depression, pulmonary risk factors, and length of time spent working as a miner.
Author(s): Drew Harris, Timothy McMurry, Amanda Caughron, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(5)
Date: 05/2021
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Describe the prevalence of and risk factors for mental illness among 2,808 active and former coal miners from central Appalachia who received clinical care at Stone Mountain Health Services Black Lung Clinic between 2018-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by degree of depression, pulmonary risk factors, and length of time spent working as a miner.
Author(s): Drew Harris, Timothy McMurry, Amanda Caughron, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(5)
Date: 05/2021
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Development of an Educational YouTube Channel: A Collaboration Between U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers
Details the development of a YouTube channel for the NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Centers (AFF Centers) to raise awareness and prevent injuries and illnesses for agricultural, forestry, and aquaculture-based workers. Details the development of the channel from the planning, production, marketing and promotion of the videos through the AFF Centers.
Author(s): Amanda Wickman, Ellen Duysen, Marsha Cheyney, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 26(1), 75-84
Date: 04/2021
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Details the development of a YouTube channel for the NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Centers (AFF Centers) to raise awareness and prevent injuries and illnesses for agricultural, forestry, and aquaculture-based workers. Details the development of the channel from the planning, production, marketing and promotion of the videos through the AFF Centers.
Author(s): Amanda Wickman, Ellen Duysen, Marsha Cheyney, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 26(1), 75-84
Date: 04/2021
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COVID-19 Outbreak Among Farmworkers — Okanogan County, Washington, May–August 2020
Examined risk factors for COVID-19 among fruit grower employees working in orchard and warehouse settings in Okanogan County, Washington. Looked at the impact of housing, comparing those living in the community to those living in congregate temporary housing. Also looked at infection rates by job role.
Author(s): James S. Miller, Michelle Holshue, Tia K.H. Dostal, Laura P. Newman, Scott Lindquist
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(17), 617-621
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Examined risk factors for COVID-19 among fruit grower employees working in orchard and warehouse settings in Okanogan County, Washington. Looked at the impact of housing, comparing those living in the community to those living in congregate temporary housing. Also looked at infection rates by job role.
Author(s): James S. Miller, Michelle Holshue, Tia K.H. Dostal, Laura P. Newman, Scott Lindquist
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(17), 617-621
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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An Outbreak of COVID-19 Among H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers
Highlights a study on COVID-19 outbreaks among temporary agricultural workers with H-2A visas. Focuses on crew of 120 workers in north central Florida. Details the workers' demographic information, such as age, sex, and country of origin, and discusses some of the factors contributing to the outbreak.
Author(s): Michael Lauzardo, Nadia Kovacevich, Anthony Dennis, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 111(4), 571–573
Date: 04/2021
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Highlights a study on COVID-19 outbreaks among temporary agricultural workers with H-2A visas. Focuses on crew of 120 workers in north central Florida. Details the workers' demographic information, such as age, sex, and country of origin, and discusses some of the factors contributing to the outbreak.
Author(s): Michael Lauzardo, Nadia Kovacevich, Anthony Dennis, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 111(4), 571–573
Date: 04/2021
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