Most Viewed Stories Farmworkers face special risks and health
issues Thanks to the agricultural workers that toil in the
fields, millions of people are fed during the winter. But these
farmworkers face different health issues and risks than the
general population. “They do a lot of repetitive work. There are
a lot of back injuries,” noted Amanda Aguirre, CEO/president of
the Regional Center for Border Health It might be a challenge to
keep their feet dry. “The fields are wet, muddy. If someone is
diabetic, it might be a problem,” she said. The same conditions
increase their risk of getting fungus under their nails. They
have to protect themselves from the insecticides applied to the
crops. They are experts at using a knife to cut lettuce and
broccoli, but they're still at risk of injuries, especially in
cold weather, when fingers might be numb. Tuberculosis, which
spreads easily, is a concern because farmworkers spend a lot of
time in small, confined spaces with large groups of people,
either living together