Support from a group of private companies has helped a public agency continue to bring the issue of agricultural safety to the forefront of many businesses in California and elsewhere. The public agency in this case is the Center for Agricultural Business (CAB), which operates as a research center under California State University, Fresno’s California Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI). The private arm of support includes 36 companies and organizations that provide financial backing to CAB’s Agricultural Safety Breakfast program.

"We had met our original goal for this program last year, which was to bring safety professionals together to get information and to share and exchange ideas," reported Kimberly Naffziger, program development specialist for CAB and coordinator of the monthly safety breakfast meetings. "We wanted to continue in this format, with no charge to attend the meetings, but we realized that to do this we would need some outside financial help."

Naffziger set up a system where outside agencies could help cover the meeting and refreshment costs and also get some public thanks and recognition. The format includes a listing of all sponsors on safety breakfast mail flyers and on other signs and documents related to the program. Sponsorship fee is $60 per year.

The last safety breakfast meeting for the 1998-99 fiscal year was held June 9. The topic was "CAL/OSHA Is Coming to Your Workplace… Are You Prepared?" The discussion focused on steps businesses should take to ensure they are meeting federal and state safety standards in anticipation of an OSHA inspection.

Following a two-month summer break, a new series of meetings will begin in September. Meetings are held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Generally the format, in addition to bagels, cream cheese and coffee, includes an hour-long presentation by a safety specialist, followed by a time of information and idea exchange among the participants.

Naffziger will be seeking input from the agricultural and agribusiness industries on what topics to serve participants beginning in September. To provide ideas or obtain more information, call CAB at (559) 278-4405. Summaries of past safety breakfast meetings, along with research and other information, are contained on CAB’s Internet web site.

 

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CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - CATI
College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
California State University, Fresno