{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]],"date-time":"2026-07-16T09:03:41Z","timestamp":1784192621619,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784073600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Migrant agricultural workers (MAWs), predominantly individuals from countries in the Global South, play a vital role in maintaining Canadian food security. Employed in low-income positions across the country, they often face workplace hazards and numerous occupational health and safety (OHS) challenges related to long working hours, limited access to OHS information, gaps in knowledge, structural power imbalances with employers, and language and cultural barriers. This pilot study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of OHS issues among MAWs in Southern and Eastern Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed survey questions on working conditions, OHS hazards, and living conditions. A total of 93 questionnaires were completed, 55 by Spanish-speaking and 38 by English-speaking individuals, with 91% of respondents identifying as male. Several participants reported awareness of positive COVID-19 cases in their workplaces, and some indicated having experienced OHS-related illnesses or injuries but felt uncomfortable reporting them to supervisors. Knowledge of OHS rights varied, with a notable minority uncertain about their entitlement to sick leave. The findings indicate a need for further research and targeted interventions to strengthen health and safety practices among MAWs and to ensure they are informed, protected, and supported in exercising their workplace rights.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23070906","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]],"date-time":"2026-07-16T08:08:34Z","timestamp":1784189314000},"page":"906","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Occupational Health and Safety Among Migrant Agricultural Workers in Ontario, Canada: A Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1660-4269","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Craig","family":"Fairclough","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, 5110 Creekbank Road, Mississauga, ON L4W 0A1, Canada"},{"name":"School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-9499-656X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Janet","family":"McLaughlin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 73 George Street, Brantford, ON N3T 2Y3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jaskaren","family":"Randhawa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, 5110 Creekbank Road, Mississauga, ON L4W 0A1, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8893-710X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chun-Yip","family":"Hon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abigail K.","family":"Leonard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 73 George Street, Brantford, ON N3T 2Y3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Statistics Canada (2025, November 25). Countries of Citizenship for Temporary Foreign Workers in the Agricultural Sector. Available online: https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/t1\/tbl1\/en\/tv.action?pid=3210022101."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Agriculture Canada (2025, November 25). The State of Labour in Agriculture and Agri-Food. Available online: https:\/\/agriculture.canada.ca\/en\/sector\/data-reports\/state-labour-agriculture-and-agri-food."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (2025, November 25). Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. Available online: https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/immigration-refugees-citizenship\/corporate\/transparency\/committees\/cimm-nov-07-2023\/seasonal-agricultural-worker-program.html."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"3844","article-title":"Paper versus practice: Occupational health and safety protections and realities for temporary foreign agriculture workers in Ontario","volume":"16","author":"McLaughlin","year":"2014","journal-title":"PISTES"},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"OHCOW (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc.) (2025, November 25). Available online: http:\/\/ohcow.on.ca."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Otero, G., and Preibisch, K. (2010). Farmworker Health and Safety: Challenges for British Columbia, WorkSafeBC. Available online: https:\/\/www.sfu.ca\/~otero\/docs\/Otero-and-Preibisch-Final-Nov-2010.pdf."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"CBC News (2025, November 25). Ontario to Ramp Up Farm Inspections as Migrant Workers Arrive for New Season of Work. Available online: https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/windsor\/ontario-migrant-workers-farms-1.5889746."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1186\/s12939-022-01692-7","article-title":"Migrant agricultural workers\u2019 deaths in Ontario from January 2020 to June 2021: A qualitative descriptive study","volume":"21","author":"Caxaj","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Equity Health"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"tay161","DOI":"10.1093\/jtm\/tay161","article-title":"Enhancing the health and safety of migrant workers","volume":"26","author":"Ujita","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Travel Med."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Belton, K., and Drul, C. (2023). Agriculture-Related Fatalities in Ontario, 1990\u20132020, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. Available online: https:\/\/www.casa-acsa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ontario-CAIR_Ag_Fatalities_1990-2020_en_V1.pdf."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Basok, T. (2002). Tortillas and Tomatoes: Transmigrant Mexican Harvesters in Canada, McGill-Queen\u2019s University Press.","DOI":"10.1515\/9780773570047"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-publhealth-040617-013714","article-title":"Migrant workers and their occupational health and safety","volume":"39","author":"Moyce","year":"2018","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"144","article-title":"Sustaining precarious transnational families: The significance of remittances from Canada\u2019s seasonal agricultural workers program","volume":"22","author":"Wells","year":"2014","journal-title":"Just Labour"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shankar, K., Lai, D., Chen, S.P., Turin, T.C., Joseph, S., and Mi, E. (2022). Highly educated immigrant workers\u2019 perspectives of occupational health and safety and work conditions that challenge work safety. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19148757"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e872","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(19)30204-9","article-title":"Occupational health outcomes among international migrant workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"7","author":"Hargreaves","year":"2019","journal-title":"Lancet Glob. Health"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"521","article-title":"\u2018Out of the Loop\u2019: (In)access to health care for migrant workers in Canada","volume":"17","author":"Hennebry","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Int. Migr. Integr."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1177\/10482911251314149","article-title":"The point of no return? Impediments to return to work for injured migrant agricultural workers in two Canadian provinces","volume":"35","author":"Mayell","year":"2025","journal-title":"New Solut. J. Environ. Occup. Health Policy"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1177\/08445621251415252","article-title":"Barriers encountered by migrant farm workers when accessing health care services in Canada: A Scoping review","volume":"58","author":"Naidoo","year":"2026","journal-title":"Can. J. Nurs. Res."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Hennebry, J., Preibisch, K., and McLaughlin, J. (2010). Health Across Borders: Health Status, Risks and Care Among Transnational Migrant Farm Workers in Ontario, CERIS Ontario Metropolis Centre."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.23209","article-title":"Migrant workers, essential work, and COVID-19","volume":"64","author":"Reid","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Ind. Med."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Weikle, B. (2025, November 25). COVID Outbreaks on Farms Reveal Crack in System that Migrant Workers Slip Through, Say Health-Care Workers. Available online: https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/radio\/whitecoat\/covid-outbreaks-on-farms-reveal-crack-in-system-that-migrant-workers-slip-through-say-health-care-workers-1.5808489#:~:text=Another%20round%20of%20COVID%2D19%20outbreaks,and%20educator%20in%20Brantford%2C%20Ont."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"35","article-title":"Migrant Farmworkers face heightened vulnerabilities during COVID-19","volume":"9","author":"Haley","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Syst. Community Dev."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1111\/ruso.12043","article-title":"Does citizenship status matter in Canadian Agriculture? Workplace health and safety for migrant and immigrant laborers","volume":"79","author":"Preibisch","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rural Sociol."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"HRC (Human Resources Director Canada) (2025, November 25). TFW Program \u2018Breeding Ground for Slavery\u2019: UN Expert. Available online: https:\/\/www.hcamag.com\/ca\/specialization\/employment-law\/tfw-program-breeding-ground-for-slavery-un-expert\/459084."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Wilson, J. (2025, November 25). Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program Provides Valuable Opportunities. Available online: https:\/\/www.hcamag.com\/ca\/specialization\/employment-law\/seasonal-agricultural-workers-program-provides-valuable-opportunities\/459568."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1186\/s13012-015-0277-2","article-title":"Sun safety at work Canada: A multiple case-study protocol to develop sun safety and heat protection programs and policies for outdoor workers","volume":"10","author":"Kramer","year":"2015","journal-title":"Implement. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"173","article-title":"Occupational health and safety for workers in precarious job situations: Combatting inequalities in the workplace","volume":"5","author":"Gravel","year":"2016","journal-title":"E-J. Int. Comp. Labour Stud."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1080\/14774003.2009.11667734","article-title":"Layers of vulnerability in occupational safety and health for migrant workers: Case studies from Canada and the UK","volume":"7","author":"Sargeant","year":"2016","journal-title":"Policy Pract. Health Saf."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"1486","article-title":"The false promise of return to work for migrant workers injured on the job in Canada: When public policies intersect to create exclusion","volume":"80","author":"Hanley","year":"2025","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Government of Ontario (2025, November 25). Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Available online: https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/occupational-health-and-safety-act-ohsa."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Porru, S., and Baldo, M. (2022). Occupational health and safety and migrant workers: Has something changed in the last few years?. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19159535"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Premji, S. (2018). Compounded vulnerabilities and creative strategies: Occupational health of temporary foreign agricultural workers. Sick and Tired: Health and Safety Inequalities, Fernwood Publishing."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsr.2022.11.011","article-title":"Comparison of management and workers\u2019 perception, attitudes and beliefs toward health and safety in the Ontario manufacturing sector","volume":"84","author":"Hon","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Saf. Res."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"422","article-title":"Factors influencing the health and safety of temporary foreign workers in skilled and low-skilled occupations in Canada","volume":"29","author":"Cedillo","year":"2019","journal-title":"NEW"},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"American Public Health Association (2025, November 25). Improving Working Conditions for U.S. Farmworkers and Food Production Workers. Available online: https:\/\/www.apha.org\/policy-and-advocacy\/public-health-policy-briefs\/policy-database\/2018\/01\/18\/improving-working-conditions."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (2025, November 25). Health and Safety Legislation in Canada. Available online: https:\/\/www.ccohs.ca\/oshanswers\/legisl\/legislation\/three_rights.html."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1177\/2752535X231221587","article-title":"Contending with precarity: Health and multi-sectoral supports for migrant agricultural workers in southern Ontario","volume":"45","author":"Caxaj","year":"2024","journal-title":"Community Health Equity Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Colindres, C., Cohen, A., and Caxaj, S. (2021). Migrant agricultural workers\u2019 health, safety and access to protections: A descriptive survey identifying structural gaps and vulnerabilities in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18073696"},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Borrelli, E. (2024). Essential but Unprotected: Migrant Farmworkers in Canada, Toronto Metropolitan University."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Amnesty International (2025, November 25). Abuse is Systemic in Canada\u2019s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Amnesty International Finds. Available online: https:\/\/amnesty.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Amnesty-International-Temporary-Foreign-Workers-Report-Plain-Text.pdf#:~:text=TFWP%20work%20permits%20tie%20workers,minor%20changes%20to%20the%20program%2C."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Migrant Workers Rights Global (2025, November 25). Urgent Reforms Needed for Migrant Agricultural Workers, Says UFCW Canada in New Report. Available online: https:\/\/www.migrantworkersrights.net\/en\/resources\/urgent-reforms-needed-for-migrant-agricultural-work."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"(2025). \u201cCanada Has Destroyed Me\u201d: Labour Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Canada (Standard No. AMR 20\/8807\/2025)."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"(2024). Visit to Canada: Report of the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Including Its Causes and Consequences, Tomoya Obokata (Standard No. A\/HRC\/57\/46\/Add.1)."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers\u2019 Association (2026, May 28). News Releases: New Protections Spell Positive Change for Ontario\u2019s Seasonal and Temporary Farm Workers. Available online: https:\/\/www.ofvga.org\/news-release\/new-protections-spell-positive-change-for-ontario-s-seasonal-and-temporary-farm-workers."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/23\/7\/906\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]],"date-time":"2026-07-16T08:10:46Z","timestamp":1784189446000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/23\/7\/906"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph23070906"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph23070906","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]}}}