Fall 2014 Newsletter MISSION:
To proactively address ongoing and emerging occupational safety and health issues affecting U.S. agriculture.
ASHCA Website Picks up Speed and Content Want to view best practices safety videos online or ask a question of a safety specialist? Want to know about upcoming events in agricultural safety? Want to consider being active on an ASHCA committee? Go to www.ashca.org for this information and more. No special login or member code is needed to access general information regarding ASHCA or activities and resources of its member organizations. Suggestions for making the site an even better resource are always welcome by calling ASHCA or sending a message to info@ashca.org.
Board Leadership Sets Direction at Milwaukee Meeting
In late August, ASHCA convened a two-day Board and Leadership meeting in Milwaukee, WI. Hosted by Mike Pankonin of Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), there was 100% attendance of the Board and staff who were also joined by Walt Armbruster of the Advisory Council. Additional guests included ASHCA’s financial manager and the three-member media/communications team. Meeting highlights included: a) a review of ASHCA accomplishments since its establishment seven years ago; b) consideration of ASHCA’s role as a Convener and Facilitator – filling an important need; c) financial planning; d) suggestions for promoting and facilitating access to safety grants; e) strengthening capacity of member organizations and partners to implement safety programs; and f) and setting a long-term strategy for acknowledging best practices and maintaining a sustainable infrastructure. Several new initiatives were proposed and detailed plans will be presented to the full AHSCA membership at the Annual Business Meeting in Washington, D.C., on February 3, 2015.
The meeting was preceded by a tour of Growing Power – an award-winning urban farm in the city’s inner circle. It is the last working farm inside the Milwaukee city limits, with six historic greenhouses, year-round hoop-houses, and farm animal pens supporting several agricultural functions – all organized within three acres. The staff numbers 65 with 25 interns and apprentices at any given time. They are experts in sustainable food production and distribution, aquaponics, composting, vermiculture, renewable energy, mushroom production, beekeeping, animal husbandry, marketing, project planning, youth development, training and food policy development. Growing Power is a leader in integrated, diversified urban sustainable agriculture and is a center of innovation, learning and inspiration.
New Board Member Chandler Goule, National Farmers Union, has joined ASHCA’s Board of Directors, filling the position vacated by Brittany Jablonsky who left NFU to become the agriculture legislative aide to Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN). Goule was promoted to National Farmers Union senior vice president of programs in 2014. Goule began his career with NFU in November 2009 as vice president of government relations. In his current capacity, Goule oversees NFU’s government relations, communications, membership and education departments, which advocate for the economic and social well-being, and quality of life of family farmers, ranchers, fishermen and consumers. Goule explained he was very pleased to join this Board, especially since he has previously worked on agriculturerelated projects with Board members Leon Graves and William Nelson. Goule got to work quickly by asking ASHCA to help him prepare a farm safety blog for the NFU website. “This would never have occurred if I hadn’t formed this link and acknowledged the importance of safety in all that we do.”
Annual Business Meeting will co-locate with NCAE
Each year’s Annual Business Meeting allows ASHCA members to meet the Board of Directors and participate in discussions regarding current and future endeavors. Past meetings were held in conjunction with a workshop and/or another venue such as AG CONNECT or APMA. For 2015 the Annual Business Meeting will precede the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) annual meeting. ASHCA will sponsor a special safety panel presentation within the NCAE meeting and members of both organizations will have networking opportunities to review common interests related to worker safety, employers’ challenges associated with immigration and health care, and information to share with policy makers.
ASHCA Board of Directors Meeting February 2, 2015 - 10:00 am ASHCA Annual Business Meeting February 3, 2015 - 8:30 am NCAE Annual Meeting Feb. 3-5, 2015 Both located at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. There is no charge to attend ASHCA’s meeting and NCAE has offered a special registration rate for its meeting for ASHCA members. (Special rate for one day only)
Save the Date!
___________ FEB. 2-3, 2015 HOTEL MONACO WASHINGTON, D.C. ___________
ASHCA convenes its Annual Business Meeting in conjunction with an inperson Board meeting at a different location each year. The next meeting will be held at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C., February 2-3, 2015, co-locating with the National Council of Agricultural Employers meeting. Stay tuned for details of safety presentations.
Safety Grant Deadline The ASHCA Safety Grants Program has announced an application deadline of
Jan. 7, 2015 Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at www.ashca.org.
The purpose of the Safety Grants Program is to provide financial support to promote evidencebased safety/health strategies addressing farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. Individuals, organizations and businesses can support ASHCA’s Safety Grants Program with financial contributions and/or “in-kind” support.
ASHCASponsored NACAA Search for Excellence in Farm Health and Safety Award National Winner David J. Workman, Extension Agent in Moorefield, WV, for Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP).
ASHCA Regional Forums and Workshops Launched
How does ASHCA help others build capacity in promoting safety for workers in agriculture? New in 2015 is the Regional Forums and Workshops Program, guided by ASHCA’s Education and Program Committee.
“We hope to sponsor 5 -7 regional events each year, building on the success of the Summit last year” - Kimberly Naffziger, Board member representing The Zenith, a California-based insurance company.
As these events gain recognition, it is anticipated that requests for ASHCA-sponsored forums will require a vetting process to set priorities for regions and topics. The first 2015 ASHCA-sponsored workshop is scheduled as a special track within the Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) of California annual meeting to be held in January, in Monterey. The four-hour session will address worker safety topics that are new to this organization, which primarily has focused on human resource and regulatory issues. Speakers have been recommended by ASHCA as the experts in their field and ASHCA will defray costs for speaker travel. In return, ASHCA is living its mission “to proactively address ongoing and emerging occupational safety and health issues affecting US agriculture.” The plan was developed by a team of Extension faculty from across the country to offer a framework for local emergency responders to more appropriately address accidents involving cattle transport vehicles. The plan includes standardized recommendations, suggestions and materials for dispatchers and first responders in the areas of call taking, scene arrival and assessment, containment and security, extraction of cattle from the trailer, relocation of cattle involved, mortality disposal, securing the wrecked transport vehicle, humane euthanasia of cattle, and debriefing.
To discuss opportunities for a regional forum, workshop or roundtable discussion to address agricultural safety/health issues within your commodity or geographic region, email info@ashca.org or phone our office at 715.898.1263.
Meet ASHCA’s Communications Team, Tri-Media ASHCA is excited to introduce it’s new Marketing & Communications Team, Branden Bodendorfer, Garrett Frankwick and Ben Bauer of Tri-Media, LLC. Tri-Media will be working closely with the ASHCA staff and board to help develop and implement it’s strategic marketing and communications plan for the upcoming year. In addition, the Tri-Media team will continue to develop and enhance ASHCA.org in order to provide a fast and reliable resource for members and potential members to utilize. We look forward to working with them!
Updates from ASHCA Safety Grant Recipients Gordon Moore of Goodwell, OK, received a $10,000 grant for onsite safety training equipment to be used in livestock operations. Within four months of receiving his grant, Moore submitted photographs and videotapes of new equipment that has been constructed for taking the training “on the road” and, with further refinement and testing, upgrades are being made to ensure the final product has a positive impact in promoting safe practices in large livestock settings.
Michael Pate of Utah State University secured a $10,000 ASHCA grant to improve fit testing for respiratory masks among agricultural producers. The program, created by Assistant Professor Pate and Associate Professor Richard Beard, is a mobile training course designed to educate agricultural workers on respirator safety.
The ten ASHCA grant recipients are submitting their six month progress reports and are expected to complete their projects by spring of 2015. Check www.ashca.org for information on current grant recipients and instruction for submitting applications in the 2015 cycle.
ASHCA to Participate in Saskatoon Symposium
To stay abreast of agricultural safety and health research and to stay connected with leaders in the field, ASHCA is a sponsoring organization of the 7th International Symposium: Safety and Health in Agricultural and Rural Populations”, October 19-22, 2014 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Branden Bodendorfer Marketing Advisor
Garrett Frankwick
Web Design, Social Media, SEO
“We will have an opportunity to network with our friends in the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) and share with others the strategies that ASHCA is pursuing for the future,” - William Nelson, ASHCA Chair, who is speaking at the event
Benjamin Bauer
Lead Designer/ Project Manager
This newsletter is a publication of the Agricultural Safety & Health Council of America, P. O. Box 356 • Marshfield, WI 54449
Contact
Phone: 715-898-1263 Fax: 715-898-1264 E-mail: info@ashca.org
The Symposium, held every five years, strives to capture the impact of global issues and challenges facing health and safety of rural peoples throughout the world. Several Canadian organizations are co-locating with this Symposium and the NIOSH Agricultural Research Center Directors will convene a planning meeting within the event.
Charter & Benefactor Members