International Total Worker Health®

We have partnered with the ColoradoSPH Center for Global Health and two of the largest agricultural enterprises in Central America to better understand the health risks agricultural workers face and determine the most effective, feasible solutions to improve their health, safety, and well-being. Global temperatures are on the rise and as a result, these workers face greater health risks. As part of the University initiatives, a group of CU scientists are researching the impact of climate on human health, we are working to understand how climate affects workers.   

We are studying the health of sugarcane and banana agricultural workers and evaluating the health and safety programs provided by their employers. Based on our findings, we will offer recommendations to these businesses, emphasizing a Total Worker Health (TWH) approach to protect workers from safety hazards and support their health and well-being. Since launching this research in 2015, we have conducted health screenings on thousands of workers. ​​​

Current Research

Particulate Exposure and Kidney Health. (March 2021 – December 2026)

Investigators: John Adgate, PhD, MSPH, Lee Newman, MD, MA, Joshua Schaeffer, PhD, Co-Principal Investigators (PI). Funded by: NIH (National Institutes of Health), National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Women's airborne exposure and kidney health in Guatemala. (May 2021 – April 2024)

Investigators: Jaime Butler-Dawson, PhD, MPH, Principal Investigator (PI). Funded by: NIH/NIEHS

Air pollutants, heat exposure, and kidney health: A longitudinal study in women in Central America

Investigators: Lee Newman, MD, MA, Principal Investigator (PI). Funded by: NIEHS

Total Worker Health® Training for Occupational Health and Safety Professionals

Investigators: Lee Newman, MD, MA, Principal Investigator (PI). Funded by: Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social (IMSS)

Highlights