OMBRES

Durada

01/06/2025-31/03/2028

Coordinador

Anna Brugulat Panés

Finançadors

ISGlobal acknowledges support from the grant CEX2023-001290-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033

OMBRES is a participatory research project aiming to reduce the health risks of occupational heat exposure among migrant agricultural workers in Lleida, Spain. The project brings together migrant workers, employers, healthcare professionals, NGOs, researchers and policymakers to co-design practical, context-specific solutions to prevent heat-related illness.

The project combines research, co-design and real-world implementation. Two co-designed interventions will be piloted, targeting both agricultural workers and the wider systems and stakeholders responsible for workplace heat protection. Their implementation and impact will then be evaluated to identify effective, sustainable and equitable approaches to heat adaptation.

By placing the experiences and knowledge of affected communities at the centre of the process, OMBRES seeks to develop solutions that are relevant to local contexts, strengthen collaboration between stakeholders, and contribute to improved occupational health and climate adaptation for migrant agricultural workers.

Project objectives:

1. To co-design a set of interventions to mitigate the negative health effects of heat exposure among migrant agricultural workers, incorporating the perceptions, knowledge, and voices of key stakeholders, including migrant agricultural workers, NGOs, healthcare professionals, employers, scientists, and policymakers.
2. To pilot implement two co-designed interventions in Lleida, Spain—one targeting migrant agricultural workers and the other targeting employers and policymakers.
3. To monitor and evaluate the pilot implemented interventions in each study area as well as the participatory methodological process.

Intervention 1: Multicomponent field intervention

The first co-designed intervention being tested is a multicomponent “climate refuge”. The measures include installing shade systems on fruit-harvesting machinery, providing lightweight, breathable clothing, fans, fresh water, and a guide with recommendations for protecting against the heat and preventing heatstroke.

Data is collected on the participants’ environmental conditions, their heat exposure, and their hydration levels. These measures will allow us to understand the actual impact of the interventions and evaluate which strategies can help improve the health and well-being of agricultural workers.