Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
goes beyond neurological consequences to range from seizures to permanent brain
damage and ultimately death; sociocultural issues associated with food consump-
tion and personal hygiene also have to be considered.
Outreach activities need to be developed in conjunction with programs to
respond promptly to the needs of producers and consumers. Priority needs to be
given to these outreach activities, considering the large number of people exposed
to and affected by the hazards of animal handling. Furthermore, safety standards
would be evaluated and updated as needed. The activities would include continuing
critical analysis to determine whether target populations have been reached and
their needs addressed. The integration of the cooperative extension service system,
colleges of veterinary medicine and animal sciences, and the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences is fundamental for the development of a much
needed holistic approach to decipher and solve these complex problems.
Review of Equipment-Safety Issues
Advances in tools, equipment, and machinery are occurring rapidly. Cowboys
are now riding motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) instead of horses, fisher-
men are using such advanced fibers as Spectra and Dyneema instead of wire rope,
and former tobacco farmers are pulling fish out of ponds or trying their hand at
organic food production. All those changes come about in an effort by AFF em-
ployers and workers to improve efficiency and perhaps make their jobs easier, but
often they are embarking on a path with unknown risks. Many riders of ATVs are
not trained to drive these fast-moving vehicles, and most do not wear protective
helmets. Spectra and Dyneema appear amazingly strong but cannot be endorsed
as reliable fishing tools, because of the lack of inspection standards. Farm equip-
ment is being adapted for uses that were never foreseen by its manufacturers. In
one photograph shown to the committee, a group of workers were shown lying face
down on a platform attached to a tractor so that they could weed without bending
over. The effort was probably intended to improve ergonomics and reduce back
pain, but it could come at the cost of unforeseen consequences. The AFF Program
needs to be constantly active in looking at emerging trends in AFF and take a more
active role in foreseeing and addressing possible hazards from new and existing
machinery.
Low-Priority Research
The committee identified four wide-reaching issues and research subjects that
are candidates for long-term study: the impact of nutrient enrichment of food and
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on worker safety and health, transporta-
Search WWH ::
Custom Search