JUNE 2024
At UMASH, collaboration is at the heart of what we do.
Catch up on how UMASH is partnering to promote the health and safety of farmers, workers, and their families by co-developing strategies and sharing insights on topics such as cannabis at work, emergency medical services (EMS), grain bin safety, needlestick injury prevention, and more.
2024 Susan Goodwin Gerberich Symposium: Cannabis and Work
NIOSH Director John Howard makes keynote presentation at Susan Goodwin Gerberich Symposium
The 2024 Susan Goodwin Gerberich Symposium, hosted by the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (MCOHS), Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, focused on “Cannabis and Work.”
Held in person at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus on May 2, 2024, the event gathered industry professionals and experts to explore the impact of the cannabis industry. Keynote speaker and NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard shared about the importance of further research in understanding the implications of cannabis on the workplace.
RF-DASH partners with Shiprock, New Mexico community to connect farmers with emergency medical services (EMS)
RF-DASH training at NMSU Extension’s Growing Forward Farm
This Spring, the Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health (RF-DASH) team responded to a community training request in northwestern New Mexico from Diné Navajo farmer and community activist, Zachariah Ben, whose family operates Bidii Baby Foods, LLC and is dedicated to improving the safety of farmers, law enforcement, and fire/EMS in the region.
Hosted at NMSU Extension’s Growing Forward Farm on March 30, 2024, the training, attended by tribal farmers, security personnel, San Juan County fire/EMS and farmers, and New Mexico State University Extension Services, focused on how to build safer farms to help create safer communities.
Sowing Safety and Inclusion in Agriculture
In A
pril, UMASH Senior Communications Manager and Evaluation Specialist Cassie Edlund, participated in the Dairy Girl Network’s Include Summit. Aimed at addressing inclusion gaps around diversity within the dairy industry, Cassie shared insights on health and safety issues affecting the industry, including discussions on workplace diversity, culturally responsive education and training, accessibility, mental health and other critical topics.
Megan Schossow and Amy Liebman met with representatives from the Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul, MN
UMASH Outreach Director and Center Coordinator Megan Schossow alongside Associate Director Amy Liebman met with representatives from the Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul, MN. The meeting aimed to enhance collaboration on initiatives to improve the health and safety of Mexican agricultural workers in the region.
By combining the resources and expertise of the UMASH Center with the Consulate’s deep understanding of the community’s needs, this partnership strives to address critical issues such as workplace hazards, access to healthcare, and educational outreach for farmworkers. The dialogue underscores a shared commitment to fostering safer working conditions and better health outcomes for this essential workforce.
Focusing in on grain bin safety this spring, in a May interview with Brownfield Ag News, UMASH Outreach Director and Center Coordinator Megan Schossow shared practical safety tips for farmers handling grain, such as working in pairs, using visual aids and lockout tagout kits, and posting emergency contact information at grain bin sites, to improve safety during the busy planting season.
Listen to the Brownfield Ag News interview with Megan:
UMASH Director Jeff Bender
Avoiding “Sticking” Situations
On May 29, UMASH Center Director Dr. Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM, in collaboration with AgriSafe Network, led an insightful webinar on needlestick injuries and prevention, Avoiding “Sticking” Situations in Agriculture: A Discussion on Sharps Safety.
This webinar, specifically tailored for agricultural producers, farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, Extension staff, and others working with animals, provided a comprehensive overview of needlestick injuries in animal agriculture, exploring the various types of injuries, their associated costs, and effective strategies to minimize risk.