News

Man in denim shirt wearing a safety mask discusses work issues with associates

Underlying Causes of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

When employers look at an individual incident more closely, it becomes clear that multiple factors contribute to accidents in the workplace.

Farmworker harvests spinach under a cloudy sky

Extreme Weather Events: Perspectives & Safety Impacts in Agriculture

Over the past decade, California has become more prone to weather extremes, including increased frequency and severity of heat waves, droughts, and wildfires.

How have these weather extremes affected the work, health, and safety of agricultural employers and farmworkers? How are they preparing for the future?

A female supervisor takes notes while farmworkers harvest melons

Investigation of Accidents, Injuries, and Illnesses

Preventing injuries, illnesses, and harmful exposure before they occur is an important goal in the workplace. However, when accidents or “near misses” do occur, they provide a good opportunity to identify health and safety problems and target prevention efforts.

A Look Back at 2019

WCAHS looks back at Research and Outreach activities for 2019.

Hazard Assessment/Inspection

When creating an Injury and Illness Prevention Program or IIPP, there must be a system in place for all worksites that periodically assesses the work environment for health and safety hazards that can cause injuries and illnesses.

Farmworker carrying water cooler through melon field

Research Highlight: Stressors and Psychological Distress of Latino Immigrant Agricultural Workers in California

Agricultural workers experience high rates of stress-related psychiatric conditions and one of the highest suicide rates of any industry and yet the stressors and mental health of this population are not well understood.

Research

Communication with Employees about Safety

One of the requirements when establishing an IIPP is to include a program for communicating with employees and involving them in the IIPP.

Employee Compliance and Safety Procedures

The IIIPP standard requires that employers establish a system for ensuring that all permanent and intermittent workers follow safety rules.

Kent Pinkerton presents at the Western Ag Safety & Health Conference in Seattle

2019 Western Agriculture Safety and Health Conference

The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) partnered with several other NIOSH-funded ag centers to host the Western Agriculture Safety and Health Conference in Seattle, Washington in early August. The conference’s theme—Cultivating Collaborations—highlighted the goal of building relationships and exchanging ideas.

IIPP Assignment of Responsibilities

Before developing an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), it is necessary to identify the individual(s) that will manage the safety program, as well as to establish roles and assignments.

Overview of Cal/OSHA’s Injury & Illness Prevention Program Standard

As stated by Cal/OSHA’s IIPP standard, it is a requirement that all employers establish, implement, and maintain a written IIPP that describes the workplace’s health and safety program, including the eight important elements described below, and how they will be implemented.

Perspectives on the Proposed Emergency Wildfire Regulation

During the May 8 advisory meeting of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) on Petition 573, the proposed emergency regulation to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke, perspectives from community members, organizations, and academic scientists were heard regarding the proposed emergency standard.

Protecting Human Health in a Changing Climate

As extreme weather events occur more frequently and increase in severity each year, WCAHS is proud to welcome investigator, Kathryn (Katie) Conlon, PhD, and her research expertise related to adaptation strategies to protect human health in a changing climate.

Research

Laura Patterson and goat at a goat dairy

Transformations within Yolo County Agriculture: Anecdotal Observations of a PhD Candidate and Former Small-Scale Farmer

As a former small-scale, diversified farmer (e.g., flowers, vegetables) and goat dairy manager, my deep-rooted agricultural background informs my research as an epidemiology PhD candidate at the University of California, Davis. My dissertation focuses on evaluating the risk of disease transmission in the wildlife-livestock-human interface.

Research

Famworkers take their lunch in the shade

Heat Illness Prevention Standard Requirements

As the summer heat quickly approaches, it is important for all outdoor places of employment, including agriculture, to know that a Heat Illness Prevention Plan can be integrated into their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).

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Latest News

Underlying Causes of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

Extreme Weather Events: Perspectives & Safety Impacts in Agriculture

Investigation of Accidents, Injuries, and Illnesses

A Look Back at 2019

Hazard Assessment/Inspection

Research Highlight: Stressors and Psychological Distress of Latino Immigrant Agricultural Workers in California

Communication with Employees about Safety

Employee Compliance and Safety Procedures

2019 Western Agriculture Safety and Health Conference

IIPP Assignment of Responsibilities

Overview of Cal/OSHA’s Injury & Illness Prevention Program Standard

Perspectives on the Proposed Emergency Wildfire Regulation

Protecting Human Health in a Changing Climate

Transformations within Yolo County Agriculture: Anecdotal Observations of a PhD Candidate and Former Small-Scale Farmer

Heat Illness Prevention Standard Requirements