Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Occupational health and safety
Wildfire Smoke as an Occupational Risk Factor: Clinician's Guide
Report discusses the health concerns associated with wildfire smoke exposure for farmworkers, and other outdoor workers. Highlights state-level air quality policies for workers in several western states and outlines best practices for clinicians.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc., Migrant Clinicians Network
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Report discusses the health concerns associated with wildfire smoke exposure for farmworkers, and other outdoor workers. Highlights state-level air quality policies for workers in several western states and outlines best practices for clinicians.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc., Migrant Clinicians Network
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Effectiveness of Frequent Point-of-Care Molecular COVID-19 Surveillance in a Rural Workplace: Nonrandomized Controlled Clinical Trial Among Miners
Examines the impact of a COVID-19 surveillance intervention utilizing point-of-care rapid antigen testing at rural mining sites in New Mexico and Wyoming from February 2021 to March 2022. Provides data on intervention acceptance, cumulative postbaseline seropositivity, and diagnostic accuracy.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, William "Cotton" Jarrell, Xin W. Shore, et al.
Citation: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2025(11), e59845
Date: 01/2025
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Examines the impact of a COVID-19 surveillance intervention utilizing point-of-care rapid antigen testing at rural mining sites in New Mexico and Wyoming from February 2021 to March 2022. Provides data on intervention acceptance, cumulative postbaseline seropositivity, and diagnostic accuracy.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, William "Cotton" Jarrell, Xin W. Shore, et al.
Citation: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2025(11), e59845
Date: 01/2025
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Rural Roads to Cognitive Resilience (RRR): A Prospective Cohort Study Protocol
Study protocol to investigate the influence of smoke-related fine particulate matter exposures and social and built environments on social isolation and cognitive function among rural Floridians in areas affected by seasonal agricultural burning. Discusses the significance of health disparities associated with agriculture in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities.
Author(s): Lilah M. Besser, Lisa Wiese, Diane J. Cook, et al.
Citation: PloS ONE, 20(1), e0312660
Date: 01/2025
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Study protocol to investigate the influence of smoke-related fine particulate matter exposures and social and built environments on social isolation and cognitive function among rural Floridians in areas affected by seasonal agricultural burning. Discusses the significance of health disparities associated with agriculture in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities.
Author(s): Lilah M. Besser, Lisa Wiese, Diane J. Cook, et al.
Citation: PloS ONE, 20(1), e0312660
Date: 01/2025
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Safeguarding Children in Agriculture: A National Action Plan
Offers strategies and intended outcomes for 7 goals related to creating safe environments for children in agricultural settings. Goals cover leadership, gathering and using data, policy, creating and using research, and addressing emerging threats. Builds upon the 2012 plan Blueprint for Protecting Children in Agriculture: The 2012 National Action Plan.
Author(s): Andrea Swenson, Bryan Weichelt, Amy Liebman, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
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Offers strategies and intended outcomes for 7 goals related to creating safe environments for children in agricultural settings. Goals cover leadership, gathering and using data, policy, creating and using research, and addressing emerging threats. Builds upon the 2012 plan Blueprint for Protecting Children in Agriculture: The 2012 National Action Plan.
Author(s): Andrea Swenson, Bryan Weichelt, Amy Liebman, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
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A Multi-State Evaluation of Agricultural Safety Learning through Secondary Students' Supervised Agricultural Experience Journal Entries
Analyzes student work-based journal reflections to assess the influence of an agricultural machinery safety training for high school students in Montana, Utah, and South Dakota. Discusses the association between instructor training and student safety journaling.
Author(s): Scott W. Smalley, Dustin K. Perry, Rebecca G. Lawver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(3), 245-256
Date: 2025
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Analyzes student work-based journal reflections to assess the influence of an agricultural machinery safety training for high school students in Montana, Utah, and South Dakota. Discusses the association between instructor training and student safety journaling.
Author(s): Scott W. Smalley, Dustin K. Perry, Rebecca G. Lawver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(3), 245-256
Date: 2025
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The Climate of Working Alone in Agriculture
Summarizes research from 193 articles discussing safety issues for agricultural workers who work alone, U.S. regulations for lone worker safety including enforcement, and similarities with hazards in other industries.
Author(s): Aaron James Etienne, William E. Field, Shawn G. Ehlers, Roger Tormoehlen, Noah Joel Haslett
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(2), 93-108
Date: 2025
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Summarizes research from 193 articles discussing safety issues for agricultural workers who work alone, U.S. regulations for lone worker safety including enforcement, and similarities with hazards in other industries.
Author(s): Aaron James Etienne, William E. Field, Shawn G. Ehlers, Roger Tormoehlen, Noah Joel Haslett
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(2), 93-108
Date: 2025
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A Summary of Fatalities and Injuries Involving Horizontal Bunk or Open Pile Silos Used in Agricultural Production
Evaluates the frequency and severity of injuries of agricultural workers in horizontal bunk silos. Breaks down the different types of silo-related injuries and rates of fatalities.
Author(s): Noah Joel Haslett, William E. Field, Mahmoud Nour, James Carrabba, Martin Huseman
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(3), 231-243
Date: 2025
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Evaluates the frequency and severity of injuries of agricultural workers in horizontal bunk silos. Breaks down the different types of silo-related injuries and rates of fatalities.
Author(s): Noah Joel Haslett, William E. Field, Mahmoud Nour, James Carrabba, Martin Huseman
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 31(3), 231-243
Date: 2025
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National Farm Medicine Center: 2024 Year in Review
Provides an overview of the 2024 activities of the National Farm Medicine Center and related partners, with a focus on research, policy, outreach and education, projects, and more. Discusses population health, well-being, and agricultural safety.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Farm Medicine Center
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Provides an overview of the 2024 activities of the National Farm Medicine Center and related partners, with a focus on research, policy, outreach and education, projects, and more. Discusses population health, well-being, and agricultural safety.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Farm Medicine Center
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Preventing Violence Against Rural Health Care Workers
Policy brief discussing violence against healthcare workers and unique factors that may influence underreporting of such violence in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to prevent healthcare worker violence in rural healthcare settings and communities and reduce barriers to reporting.
Author(s): Carrie Howard, Aaron Kramer, Devon Noonan
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief discussing violence against healthcare workers and unique factors that may influence underreporting of such violence in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to prevent healthcare worker violence in rural healthcare settings and communities and reduce barriers to reporting.
Author(s): Carrie Howard, Aaron Kramer, Devon Noonan
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Bird Flu Exposure Prevention – Employer Checklist
Checklist for employers of farmworkers to decrease risk of H5N1 exposure. Covers California-specific regulations in addition to guidance on written procedures, sanitation, biosecurity, training, personal protective equipment, and medical care. Checklist available in both English and Spanish.
Author(s): Teresa Andrews, Elizabeth Georgian
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
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Checklist for employers of farmworkers to decrease risk of H5N1 exposure. Covers California-specific regulations in addition to guidance on written procedures, sanitation, biosecurity, training, personal protective equipment, and medical care. Checklist available in both English and Spanish.
Author(s): Teresa Andrews, Elizabeth Georgian
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
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