Review of Outreach Activities: Knowledge Diffusion and Technology Transfer - Agriculture Forestry and Fishing Research at NIOSH - page 122

Focused on exposure to agricultural chemicals and health, it conducts basic re-
search, houses major surveillance efforts, and collaborates with Farm Safety 4 Just
Kids. Its studies were primarily on toxicant inhalants and respiratory problems
associated with swine. Center staff conducted multiple interventions, including
a 700-farm family and community partnership for a health training (Keokuk
County) program that was a successful intensive educational training and support
model. Evaluation has shown that agricultural health and safety training correlated
with a reduction in fatalities. (The authors, however, are cautious about claiming
credit.) The AgriSafe Network provided ongoing agricultural occupational safety
and health education for health professionals. Great Plains Center reports are
clearly presented using the logic model.
High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
The High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
(HICAHS, http://www.hicahs.colostate.edu ) serves the residents of Colorado, the
High Plains, and the Rocky Mountain Region. It is on the Colorado State University
campus in Fort Collins and is a multidisciplinary organization with input from
such fields as engineering, industrial hygiene, education, toxicology, social work,
epidemiology, environmental health, and agricultural sciences. HICAHS conducted
outreach (training and education) primarily through Cooperative Extension and in
partnership with public health professionals in the schools. It undertook hazard-
evaluation site visits and surveys and extensive outreach to the migrant community.
The model it used was a regional multistate effort in coordination with extension
specialists at universities. It used a participatory learning model for technology
transfer and knowledge diffusion. It seems to have neglected the American Indian
population. Its focus is on exposure to pesticides, lung diseases, and engineering
controls, education, and training in regional projects. Considerable evaluation of
projects is an integral part of center work.
Rather than relying only on cooperative extension for r2p, the program es-
tablished new partnerships with agricultural associations, equipment and service
companies, insurance carriers, dairy owners, community health clinics, and other
organizations, such as Easter Seals. That broadened the range of distribution and
contacts. As a result of the broad-based participatory approach, the center provided
many “customized” training programs. This approach allows greater input on re-
search needs from end users, provides more effective documentation, and affords
greater attention to regional needs of agricultural partners that have direct access
to end users (farmers, ranchers, farm facilities, and migrant and seasonal workers)
(page 99 of Appendix 2-10 in NIOSH, 2006a).