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EPA Recognizes National Farm Safety and Health Week: Supports Safer and Healthier Agricultural Environment
For Release: September 22, 2014
EPA is recognizing National Farm Safety and Health Week (September 21-27) to promote the importance of a safer and healthier agricultural work environment. The 2014 theme, “Safety Counts: Protecting What Matters,” underscores EPA efforts to support the health and safety of farmworker communities.
- EPA announced in February 2014 proposed changes to the Agency’s pivotal farmworker protection effort: the agricultural Worker Protection Standard. EPA is proposing significant improvements to protect the nation’s two million farm workers and their families from pesticide exposure. Representing more than a decade of extensive stakeholder input, these revisions protect workers while supporting agricultural productivity and preserving the traditions of family farms. Read more: https://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/index.html.
- EPA supported the release of the 6th Edition of Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, which is now available at no cost. Through a cooperative agreement with EPA, the Medical University of South Carolina and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture updated this resource, which provides to clinicians emergency and primary care information for treating patients with suspected pesticide-related illnesses. This edition reflects new clinical toxicology and treatment information on pesticides. Read more: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/recognition-and-management-pesticide-poisonings.
- Through another cooperative agreement with the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, EPA funds resources and training for farmworkers on how to stay safer around pesticides. AFOP also teaches farmworker families how to limit their exposure to pesticide residues brought home from work on clothes, tools, boots, and other items. AFOP’s Project LEAF (Limiting Exposures Around Families) features a fictional farmworker family that faces the challenge of reducing pesticide exposure in their home and includes flipcharts, magnets, posters, brochures and radio messages. Order free materials now! Read more: http://afop.org/health-safety/leaf/.
- To support doctors and nurses in providing quality healthcare, the Migrant Clinicians Network trains clinicians to address the pesticide related health concerns of farmworkers and their families through funding provided by a cooperative agreement with EPA. Resources include tools to help properly report suspected pesticide incidents. Pesticide exposure incident reports can help patients get appropriate care and help public health experts identify trends and emerging problems.
For additional worker safety resources: https://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/catalog/subpage7.htm.
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