Center for Agricultural Business
- Winter 1995 "Update" Newsletter Article -

---

Ag safety program growth reflects industry interest
by Donald Bennett, coordinator, Agricultural Safety Program

---

From CATI Publication #950101
Copyright © 1995. All rights reserved.

---

About two years ago, the Center for Agricultural Business (CAB) established an Agricultural Safety Program (ASP) designed to provide agricultural employers and safety professionals with timely information about changing safety laws and regulations, and to offer professional development training classes.

One of the first tasks in developing the program was to form a program advisory committee to get feedback on our proposals from the agricultural community. We followed their advice and sponsored a series of safety meetings and training workshops.

Since that time the program has grown; we now sponsor monthly safety meetings, a speaker series, and training workshops for agricultural supervisors in both English and Spanish. We produced a national teleseminar on the topic of employee involvement and safety, and we provide updated safety information on CATI's ATI-Net (Advanced Technology Information Network).

SAFETY MEETINGS

On the second Wednesday of each month, agricultural safety professionals converge on the CATI conference room at 7:15 a.m. to hear a speaker on a timely safety topic, and to participate in an active question and answer period followed by a roundtable discussion.

A sample of the practical topics covered at the monthly safety meetings includes Cal-OSHA regulations on bloodborne pathogens; ergonomics; signs and symptoms of substance abuse in the workplace; implementing a successful return-to-work program; and selling safety to your boss.

The topic for the meeting of Jan. 11, 1995 will be "Handling Problem Employees." "Safety Incentive Programs" will be the topic for the February meeting.

SPEAKER SERIES

CAB's ASP also sponsors a guest speaker series on personnel management and safety-related topics. Some of the topics included an update on labor laws, ALRB and organizing activities, and Total Quality Management. The Spring Speaker Series will start in March.

TRAINING WORKSHOPS

For the second year, CAB has sponsored a supervisory training program, presented in English and Spanish. Classes have been offered in Fresno, Oxnard, and Santa Maria and California. The training is designed to provide the first-line supervisor with information about laws and regulations, along with practical techniques on how to supervise the work of others. This popular series will continue to be offered throughout the state.

A half-day workshop on conducting an accident investigation will be presented on Feb. 15. Other workshops on practical safety topics are being planned for the spring.

USING NEW TECHNOLOGY

CAB teamed with California State University, Fresno's Division of Extended Education and the Safety Center, a chapter of the National Safety Council, to produce a teleseminar on employee involvement and safety.

The live television training event originated from a studio at California State University, Sacramento, and was transmitted on satellite to a national audience. CAB was also a downlink site for a national teleseminar sponsored by Wausau Insurance on how to prevent back injuries.

The ASP is using computer technology to extend timely safety and training information to the agricultural community. We have enhanced the agricultural safety information found on CATI's Advanced Technology Information Network (ATI-Net). Agricultural safety professionals can find current information, free of charge, about safety meetings, conferences, and where to obtain safety training resources on the ATI-Net.

COLLABORATION

We are collaborating with other organizations, such as AgSafe, the California Farm Bureau Federation, and Agricultural Producers, to cosponsor training events and to promote injury and illness prevention in agriculture.

The ASP and AgSafe will present a statewide conference on agricultural health and safety issues in Sacramento on March 27 and 28. ASP is working closely with the Farm Bureau's Health and Safety Committee to obtain safety information through the use of the ATI-Net. CAB and Agricultural Producers will cosponsor a two-day Human Resource Conference in June.

From the modest beginning of sponsoring a couple of meetings for a few agricultural safety professionals, CAB's ASP activities have expanded to provide a full calendar of safety meetings, training workshops, and collaborative conferences.

To receive a calendar of events for CAB's Agricultural Safety Program, call Kimberly Naffziger at (559) 278-4405, or access the ATI- Net's menu item, Agricultural Safety Information, Calendar of Events.

{ page top }

---