Agricultural Work Safety Efforts by Wisconsin Extension Agricultural Agents

Abstract

This study investigated the agricultural work-related safety and health programming of county-level cooperative extension agents who work through land grant universities to provide a range of educational programs to agricultural producers. A questionnaire was designed and administered to all 89 Wisconsin agriculture and agribusiness extension county faculty. The questionnaire obtained valid responses from 98.9 percent of the agents. Ninety percent of all agents conducted some occupational safety and health promotion programming in the last year. These activities occupied an average of 4.8 days per agent per year. Most of the reported activities were group programs for the agricultural labor force that involved other extension agents and included the use of videotapes. The greatest barrier to more programming was lack of time on the part of both the agricultural work force and the agents. Most extension agents placed greater emphasis on training in how to work safely around hazards than on how to recognize and permanently correct hazards. For future programs agents requested more short format materials to use in programming, such as fact sheets, videotapes, and farm hazard inspection checklists. Agents are important training delivery resources for controlling farm-related injury and disease. Agents could be more effective with more time, better materials, and with more emphasis on hazard correction in workplace safety programs.

Farm Parents' Attitudes Towards Farm Safety Experts*

“…In agriculture, this role of communicating and adapting expert knowledge appears to be done at least to some degree by extension agents, who often lie at the intersection between farmers and expert knowledge ( Juntti and Potter 2002). For example, one study found that safety information from extension agents tends to be more ''farmer friendly,'' emphasizing working around hazards rather than correcting hazards (Chapman et al 1995).…”

Safety Warnings in Tractor Operation Manuals, 1920–1980: Manuals and Warnings Don't Always Work

“…From their perspective, productivity outweighs safety, which is perceived to slow productivity [7]. Any safety training materials need to be short and direct to appeal to the farm work force that resists manuals and lengthy training formats [8]. As Legault and Murphy, noted, "Maximize the information given with a minimal amount of text" [9].…”

Educating Health Professionals to Respond to Bioterrorism

“…17 The educational offerings will include presentations on plant microbiology, early recognition of biothreat-related zoonoses and botanical diseases, pests related to biosecurity, the agricultural extension agent as county plant health doctor, and food supply safety.…”