Immigrant workers are essential to the dairy workforce and represent half of all workers in the industry.
Agricultural work can be especially hazardous for these workers as many face societal, cultural, and language barriers to learning and practicing safety on the farm. To stay safe on the job, immigrant workers need access to culturally appropriate occupational safety training in the language they can best understand.
UMASH Projects:
In 2011, UMASH, led by the Migrant Clinicians Network and the National Farm Medicine Center, worked with producers, extension agents, migrant health experts, and health and safety professionals to create Seguridad en las Lecherías (Safety on Dairy Farms), a five-lesson, OSHA approved, safety training curriculum available for free in both English and Spanish.
The program uses engaging visuals and conversation, covering various topics, including safe animal handling, chemical handling, equipment and machinery usage, and worker rights and responsibilities to:
- Teach essential and practical safety information
- Share impactful personal stories
- Promote accurate attitudes toward the likelihood and severity of injuries
- Increase safer behaviors on the farm
THE IMPACT:
Analyses of pre-and post-test scores showed a statistically significant increase in workers’ knowledge after each lesson and after the entire training program. Starting in 2016, the project team also interviewed workers both before and after the program, finding that.
All workers were able to remember at least one health and safety right that workers have in the United States, compared to only 14% before.
75% of workers felt very confident about being able to keep themselves safe and healthy on the farm, compared to 46% before.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
UMASH has trained over 1,300 workers on almost 100 dairy operations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. More than 50 organizations in the US and beyond have requested and used the program including:
- 52 dairy workers trained to be Community Health Workers
- Collaborating with Minnesota Milk Producers and other dairy organizations to enroll 30 new farms in MN
- 50+ organizations in the US and beyond have requested the curriculum
- Developing partnerships between veterinarians and industrial hygienists to improve farm safety
- Collaborating with MN Milk Producers and other dairy organizations to enroll 30 new farms in MN.
- The curriculum has been requested by more than 50 organizations in the US and beyond.
- Developing partnerships between veterinarians and industrial hygienists to improve farm safety.
- Produced a promotional YouTube video highlighting the curriculum and train-the-trainer model to encourage use by other organizations.
- Received the Stakeholder Collaboration in Occupational Injury Research Award from the National Safety Council in 2015.
- Monica Cruz Zorrilla, Community Affairs with the Consulate of Mexico was awarded the School of Public Health Community Partners Collaboration Award in 2017.
Stakeholder Collaboration in Occupational Injury Research Award
National Safety Council, 2015
“Workers feel confident that they can ask for safety trainings and safety materials. They also know whom to ask. They know that if they talk with [the safety manager], then they will be working on it. So, workers take charge of their safety, and they know that they have the support of the safety manager.”
“[There have been] less accidents. Prior there were a fair amount of accidents. In the last two months, there were zero accidents reported.”
Responding to the H5N1 Avian Flu Outbreak in U.S. Dairies: Resources and Training for Worker Health and Safety
UMASH, in collaboration with its partners and with support from NIOSH, is providing critical resources and training to address the emerging H5N1 (avian flu) outbreak in U.S. dairies. This includes bilingual educational materials on bird flu prevention, a survey of dairy producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and updates to the Seguridad worker training program to enhance biosecurity, personal protective equipment use, and worker health and safety.
