Publication Date

5-2025

Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)

3-7-2025

Type of Culminating Activity

Dissertation

Degree Title

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration

Department

School of Public Service

Supervisory Committee Chair

Lisa Meierotto, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Brian Wampler, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Stephanie Witt, Ph.D.

Abstract

Farming communities across the United States (U.S.) face significant challenges with occupational safety and health (OSH) policy noncompliance, resulting in injury, sickness, and even death. Various stakeholders, including federal and state governments, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and farm employees, play a role in enforcing and promoting OSH policy compliance. This dissertation investigates whether compliance with pesticide safety policies exists, identifies factors influencing compliance or noncompliance, and explores why farm management and Latinx farmworkers located in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, choose to adhere to—or disregard—public rules and private recommendations about pesticide safety. The findings reveal varying levels of pesticide safety compliance among farms. Collaborative efforts including farm management communication with or receiving communication from OSHA, the Department of Agriculture, farm worker advocacy groups, and other farm management enhance pesticide safety compliance. However, participants emphasized the importance of proactive outreach and transparency over the frequency of communication. While pesticide safety trainings were consistently provided, many farmworkers did not fully benefit from them because they often did not understand the content, due to difficult wording. This study employs the Social Construction Framework and Narrative Policy Framework to guide research design, data collection, and analysis. A mixed-methods, case-study approach was used to collect data from surveys with farm management, focus groups with Latinx farmworkers, and interviews with policymakers and farmworker advocacy groups across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Insights from this research illuminate how perceptions of social constructs and the effectiveness of collaborative enforcement strategies influence pesticide safety compliance behavior. These findings inform policy recommendations to improve pesticide safety practices, ultimately mitigating adverse outcomes and enhancing OSH compliance across the U.S.

DOI

10.18122/td.2369.boisestate

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