2002 Annual Report
Extension and Outreach
The Agricultural Safety and Health Program
John Shutske, Associate Professor
and Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist
Michele Schermann, Research Fellow
Stacey Jenkins, Extension Educator
Ruth Rasmussen, Research Fellow
Numerous Extension Educators statewide
Objectives
Develop and deliver innovative Extension and academic education programs
designed to help protect the lives and health of agricultural workers
and farm families in Minnesota and nearby states.
Program Description
Agriculture remains the most dangerous industry in the United States
based on the per capita occupational fatality rate. When children’s
exposure to the workplace is included, farming ranks as Minnesota’s
most dangerous occupation. There were 27 agricultural workplace fatalities
in the state in 2002, down slightly from 2001. The Agricultural Safety
& Health (ASH) Program develops research-based educational materials
that are delivered by program staff, Extension Educators, and other rural
professionals interested in teaching about injury prevention and health
promotion. In 2002, this mission was expanded to cover issues of agricultural
and public health preparedness to help agricultural and rural communities
prepare for and respond to rural and food systems emergencies. The program
is headquartered in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department,
and is closely linked to the School of Public Health’s Educational
Resource Center (ERC). The ERC component includes an academic minor in
agricultural safety and health for graduate students in Public Health
as well as continuing education programs for health professionals. All
of the ASH program activities are grounded either in theory related to
safety engineering or public health, and the program strives to be responsive
to the changing needs of the agricultural industry in the Upper Midwest
region.
Outcomes
During the past year, the program was involved in educational programs that reached over 5,000 people in Minnesota including youth, farmers, parents, health professionals and rural leaders. This included educational workshops and seminars for groups and one-on-one consultation with people at trade shows, health fairs, field days, and other events. During the fall of 2002, media activities during National Farm Safety and Health Week resulted in 166 news articles in Minnesota daily and weekly newspapers. Total circulation for these news sources was 392,201 subscribers. Another major highlight of 2002 activities included a major contribution to the inaugural 2002 Public Health Institute with the title “From Farm to Table: Safety and Biosecurity in Food Production Systems.” The program provided extensive planning and consultation for this event which included a series of formal courses and continuing education offerings for a group of approximately 60 people from around the United States who participated in this three-week event. In 2003, the ASH program will be providing 45 hours of CEU/academic credit courses covering issues of agricultural injury, occupational health, and safety engineering.