What happens to all the used sharps used in agriculture? Where are they stored? Can they be thrown in the household trash? Are there general guidelines
SPOTLIGHT: Best Practices for Veterinary Sharps
SPOTLIGHT: Telling the Story Project
Tell a story, save a life. That’s the idea behind a new project inserting injury prevention messages into first-hand accounts of farmers and others impacted
SPOTLIGHT: Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines
As grass-cutting season gets underway it’s typical to see children and teenagers operating push and riding mowers. But these tasks can be hazardous.
SPOTLIGHT: Workplace Safety Consultation – Free Assistance for MN Farms
The Minnesota Workplace Safety Consultation - Safety Grant Program provides up to $10,000 in matching funds to qualifying applicants to reduce injury and
SPOTLIGHT: Extension Partner, Emily Wilmes
UMASH is fortunate to partner with Extension colleagues across the state in a number of areas. One colleague is Emily Wilmes, Extension Educator in Stearns,
SPOTLIGHT: MCN Publication on Immigrant Dairy Worker Trainings Wins Paper of the Year Award
UMASH and the Migrant Clinician’s Network partnered together to develop, train and deliver the Seguridad en las Lecherías project from 2011 – 2016.
SPOTLIGHT: Safer FACEs Online Training Program for Agritourism Venues
In January 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health launched Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits (Safer FACEs), a training program for agritourism venues.
SPOTLIGHT: Reality Check – Farm Safety
Isn’t it satisfying to check items off a to-do list? UMASH created a safety resource that allows you to do exactly that. The Farm Safety Check is a
SPOTLIGHT: Keeping a safe eye on what we write, say and show in agriculture
The media play an important role in reinforcing safety in agriculture and in rural life across the United States. What we write, say and show as images
SPOTLIGHT: Ag Safety – Communication is Key
Communication is key. Although this overly-heard cliche provides no solution, it’s a good reminder of the importance of communication. To put it simply,
SPOTLIGHT: Direct to you – Safety Videos via YouTube
In the busy life of farming, it is important to reach farmers where they are with relevant safety information to protect themselves, their families and
SPOTLIGHT: Alexis Murillo, Reflecting on my UMASH Internship
University of Minnesota student Alexis Murillo describes her experiences and what she learned during her time working as a UMASH Communications Intern.
SPOTLIGHT: We are grateful for our partners
November is a month to reflect and be thankful. Bruce Alexander, Director of UMASH, puts into words how grateful we are as an organization to partner with
SPOTLIGHT: A Better Way to Return To Work
When farm workers are forced to take time off due to sickness or injuries, the current return-to-work process has often been a hardship for both the individual
SPOTLIGHT: Pesky Occupations
Tick- borne diseases are particularly threatening to people who spend a majority of their days in high-risk tick areas such as farmers, DNR members, and
SPOTLIGHT: A Solution to the Silent but Deadly Farm Gases
There are many stories. Stories of farmers with chronic illnesses. Stories of middle aged ag-workers suffering from respiratory issues. Stories of farm
SPOTLIGHT: UMASH Shines a Light on Safety at MN Farmfest
On August 1, 2017, UMASH sponsored a panel discussion at the Minnesota Farmfest. The panel discussion was titled Farm Safety: Protecting You, Your Family,
SPOTLIGHT: A Collaborative Effort to Advocate for Safety and Health on Farms
In August 2017, UMASH, the Great Plains Center for Agriculture Health (GPCAH), and the Center States Center for Agriculture Safety and Health (CS-CASH),
SPOTLIGHT: Ag Teachers Go Back to Class
Megan Roberts, Assistant Extension Professor for the University of Minnesota, lead a pilot project to develop a curriculum for agriculture educators that
SPOTLIGHT: Agritourism
Keeping Your Visitors Happy and Healthy. Agritourism is an opportunity for farms to allow guests onto the premises to enjoy some kind of agriculture experience.
SPOTLIGHT: 2017 NORA Symposium
On May 5th, the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Symposium targeted the opioid crisis for its annual outreach event. The symposium focused
SPOTLIGHT: Firefighters Could be Key to Farm Safety
Rural firefighters are farmers’ neighbors, friends, family, or are farmers in their own right. They are a highly trainable and trusted workforce. Moreover,
SPOTLIGHT: Roadway Safety
It is important to take special precautions on the roadways during planting and harvesting season—whether you are a farmer or driver of a motor vehicle.
SPOTLIGHT: Rollover Protection
The occupational death rate on farms is nearly 800 percent greater than in all other industries combined. The leading cause of farm deaths is tractor rollovers.
SPOTLIGHT: CAHFS Daily News
The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) is pleased to announce the addition of an agricultural worker health and safety bi-weekly
SPOTLIGHT: Worker Protection Standard
Agricultural work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the US. In January 2017, those who work in this important industry were afforded stronger
SPOTLIGHT: Ag Injury News Clippings Database
AgInjuryNews.org is a great resource to monitor injury and fatality trends. These are not official numbers, but are gleaned from news reports across the
SPOTLIGHT: An Ode to Research Participants
I recently had the privilege to organize an event acknowledging the efforts of participants in our Hispanic worker training research project. We had asked
SPOTLIGHT: Seguridad – Translating Research to Practice
Have you ever changed your behavior because of a research study you came across on the radio or in a magazine? Perhaps you you started an exercise program
SPOTLIGHT: The Evolution of the Healthy Fairs Project – The Power of Relationships
Natalie Loots UMASH Evaluation Team Research Assistant, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health Relationships
SPOTLIGHT: 2015 UMASH Annual Forum – Partnerships Create Greater Impact
Natalie Loots UMASH Evaluation Team Research Assistant, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health “If
SPOTLIGHT: “Stress Less” with Good Stockmanship and Reduce Worker Injuries
Jeffrey B. Bender DVM Director/CAHFS, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Moving and handling 1400-pound
SPOTLIGHT: Collaboration brings new insights into ‘Livestock Associated’ MRSA in pigs in the USA
Peter Davies BVSc, PhD Professor, Swine Health and Production, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Two recently published studies involving
SPOTLIGHT: Responding to Emerging Issues – HPAI Outbreak
Joni M. Scheftel, DVM, MPH, DACVPM State Public Health Veterinarian, Minnesota Department of Health Kirk Smith, DVM, PhD Foodborne, Waterborne, Vectorborne,
SPOTLIGHT: Rabies as an Immigrant Worker Health Issue on the Farm
Iris Reyes Research Specialist, National Farm Medicine Center As the dairy industry modernizes, Hispanic immigrant workers play an increasingly important
SPOTLIGHT: Invisible Dangers on the Farm
Carrie Klumb Senior Epidemiologist, Minnesota Department of Health In this spotlight story, a mother shares her young daughters’ frightening experiences
SPOTLIGHT: Rabid Calf on a Stearns County Farm
Carrie Klumb Senior Epidemiologist, Minnesota Department of Health A Stearns County farmer noticed a 5 month-old calf that began showing atypical behaviors
SPOTLIGHT: Rabies on the Farm
Carrie Klumb Senior Epidemiologist, Minnesota Department of Health Each year, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) tests approximately 2,000 wild or
SPOTLIGHT: Needlestick Risks, An Interview with a Wisconsin Dairy Farmer
Iris Reyes and Teresa Schnetzer While needlestick injuries are usually minor, certain injection related injuries are very serious. Studies have shown that
SPOTLIGHT: Leo’s Story
Carrie Klumb Senior Epidemiologist, Minnesota Department of Health My husband, Ryan, is a third generation dairy farmer with approximately 200 head on
