Agricultural safety training: California style.

In response to 1990 regulations in California, agricultural industry leaders formed a coalition with academic institutions and farm organizations to ensure they were compliant with new standards for worker safety in agricultural work settings. Out of this coalition emerged a not-for-profit organization, AgSafe. This was followed by a formal training program, the California Agricultural Safety Certificate Program. Now with more than 10 years' experience, this program has evolved into a highly successful initiative that garners industry support throughout the state. Courses can be taken at one annual event or at intervals, including regionalized offerings. The AgSafe program and other training workshops have helped agricultural producers/employers more rapidly and effectively adopt best management practices in an increasingly more complicated regulatory environment. In the process it has enhanced a culture of safety and introduced valuable strategies that increase productivity while improving safety and health outcomes for workers. To date, nearly 550 individuals have secured certificates of completion that reflect at least 15 hours of formal coursework. English- and Spanish-language training is offered in a manner that is responsive to the learning styles of a multicultural workforce. California's approach for safety training of agricultural workers can serve as a model for enhancing respect and cooperation among employers, workers, and safety professionals.

Priority risk factors for back injury in agricultural field work: vineyard ergonomics.

With support of a NIOSH Community Partners grant, the authors reviewed data from three cooperating vineyard companies in Napa and Sonoma Counties, finding both high rates of evidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and identifying priority MSD hazards for intervention. Data from OSHA 200 injury report logs identified 29 reported MSDs and 435 lost workdays in a working population of 194 in a 30-month period. The majority of these (20) involved backstrain. High risk job tasks were identified, including: employer-identified tasks, analysis of injury reports, and ergonomics risk factor checklist survey of task work. Triangulating across these three data groups resulted in identification of high priority tasks, including: hand harvest work, hand pruning, and weeding using shovels. Priority risk factors for back injury in these jobs were: repetitive lifting of heavy loads, repetitive exertion of force by the trunk and upper extremities, and repetitive or sustained awkward postures of the trunk (including full stoop and twisting with loads).