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UMASH Success Story: Dairy Worker Safety Training

UMASH Success Story: Dairy Worker Safety Training

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THE PROBLEM:

Immigrant workers make up nearly half of the dairy labor force and dairies employing immigrants produce 79% of the US milk supply.  However, most workers receive no safety training.

Producers and workers struggle with language and cultural barriers and limited safety resources.  This changing diversity in the workforce presents new occupational risk factors.  Culturally and linguistically appropriate education in agricultural health and safety is necessary.

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Success Story PDF

Success Story PDF

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THE SOLUTION:

Producers and immigrant workers successfully tested a model program to address on-the-farm safety needs from hazard reduction to worker training.  It developed a train-the-trainer curriculum that was later adopted by OSHA as an approved curriculum and utilizes Community Health Workers.

The 5-module curriculum includes background sections, step-by-step facilitator guides and handouts to reinforce safety messages, as well as visuals for workers with limited formal education and low literacy levels.

THE IMPACT:

  • Trained 1,002 workers and 52 Community Health Workers (CHW’s) on 78 farms in MN and WI.
  • 50 farm safety consults
  • 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.
  • 1,002 workers trained on 78 farms in MN and WI
  • 50 farm safety consults
  • 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

Stakeholder Collaboration in Occupational Injury Research Award
National Safety Council, 2015

View dairy worker safety training curriculum and resources