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- Spring 1997 "Update" Newsletter Article -
New publication to serve as ag safety resource
From CATI Publication #970401
Copyright © 1997. All rights reserved.
Occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities in California agriculture take a high toll in human suffering every year. According to information compiled by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), nearly 20,000 workers suffer disabling injuries and 40 persons are killed each year while working in farm-related occupations.
Unfortunately, the death and injury rates in agriculture have remained con-sistently high over the years. In an effort to help remedy this situation, the Center for Agricultural Business (CAB) has compiled a resource guide that directs employers to numerous information sources on occupational safety procedures and regulations.
Directing publication of the guide was Donald Bennett, consultant to CAB's Agricultural Safety Program, as well as director of AgSafe.
"The purpose of this resource guide is to provide the agricultural safety manager and loss control consultant with a packet of information helpful in implementing the company's injury and illness prevention program," Bennett said.
On-the-job injuries and illnesses are costly to both workers and employers, Bennett noted. Injured workers face the cost of human suffering and lost wages. Employers lose money in a variety of ways, such as increased cost of medical and workers compensation insurance, loss of productivity, worker replacement, and damage to products and equipment.
In the past, many people believed "accidents" were unavoidable and "just happen," Bennett explained. But attitudes are changing. Safety professionals now believe that every so-called accident is predictable and preventable. There is even a change in the terms used by today's safety professional. The old term "accident" has been replaced by "unintentional injury." And "accident investigation" has been replaced by "safety incident investigation."
Current California law requires every employer to have a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). The program must include documentation that it is being implemented, with records detailing safety inspections, safety incident investigations, and safety training sessions.
The sections in the new resource guide address the various areas of job safety. They include confined space, electrical safety, ergonomics, video display terminals, field sanitation, first aid, hazard communications, heat stress, lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, bloodborne pathogens, and workplace security.
Following a synopsis of workplace safety concerns, each section offers further summaries of state and federal laws and regulations; models and programs which can be used to meet the regulations; and brief lists of reference books, training manuals, and related journal articles.
The guide also contains a list of physical and Internet addresses of a variety of agricultural agencies and organizations.
Single copies of the new Agricultural Safety Resource Guide is available from the CATI. Link to the Research Publications section to view or request a copy.
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Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved.
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - CATI
College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
California State University, Fresno
