A Cross-Sectional Legal Epidemiology Study of Associations Between State-Level Labor Laws (LLEI) and Workplace Sanitation and Training Indicators Among Hispanic US Crop Workers Using the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS).

Abstract

Agricultural workers are at a disproportionate risk of work-related injuries and illnesses. We examined how labor laws are associated with agricultural workers' work environments. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Hispanic/Latine participants in the National Agricultural Workers Survey to assess the association between a Labor Law Equity Index (LLEI), which summarizes agricultural worker inclusion or exclusion in workers' compensation, minimum wage, and overtime pay laws across US states, and workplace conditions. Higher LLEI scores were associated with an increased odds of employer provision of water (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05 to 1.33), toilet (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.34 to 1.67), hand-washing station (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.56), and pesticide training (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.29). Our results highlight policy-related opportunities to improve workplace water access, sanitation, and training implementation to better support agricultural worker health.