Health and safety hazards in Northwest agriculture: Setting an occupational research agenda

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 42; no. S2; pp. 62 - 67
• Main Authors: Fenske, Richard A., Hidy, Adrienne, Morris, Sharon L., Harrington, Marcy J., Keifer, Matthew C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.08.2002; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - prevention & control; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; health and safety hazards; Health Priorities; Humans; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.); Northwest agriculture; Northwestern United States; Occupational Health; Occupational medicine; occupational research agenda; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; United States; Oregon; United States; North America; Idaho; Washington; America; Northwestern United States; Human; Participation; Occupational accident; Health policy; Surveillance; Priority; Population; Agriculture; Research; Occupational exposure; Trauma; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10081

Background Agriculture is among the most hazardous occupations in the United States. Research can provide new insights about disease and injury and serve as the foundation for occupational health and safety policies. The determination of research priorities can be problematic. Public participation approaches offer opportunities to identify and integrate various perspectives. Methods The agenda process was modeled on the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda. Center staff contacted representatives of producer groups, labor, health care, academia, and public agencies to participate in telephone interviews and a daylong workshop. Results Twelve research priorities were identified: musculoskeletal disorders; respiratory disease; skin disease; traumatic injuries; chemical exposures; special populations at risk; social and economic foundations of workplace safety; risk communication barriers; diagnostic approaches; hazard control technology; intervention effectiveness; and surveillance research methods. Conclusions The agenda process engaged stakeholders in priority setting. The resulting document is a useful guide for occupational safety and health in agriculture. Am. J. Ind. Med. Suppl. 2:62–67, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.