The coronavirus pandemic has challenged our way of thinking, living and interacting. Get the information you need to make decisions for yourself and your family. This is a discussion addressing common questions about COVID-19 vaccines.  Watch the recording of this neighbor-to-neighbor virtual discussion to sort through information concerning the COVID-19 vaccines. This presentation took place on August 25th at noon Central with invited speaker Fred Gerr, MD.

Intended Audience: Agricultural Producers & Workers, Individuals living in rural areas, or any individuals that would like to learn more about COVID-19 vaccine confidence

Summary: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has profoundly affected humans on a global scale in a noticeably short time. Individuals working in agriculture are essential workers and are naturally at increased risk of negative health and economic consequences from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation will highlight protective measures ag employers can take to reduce transmission of infectious diseases including the new COVID-19 Delta variant. Interim guidance from the CDC and U.S. Department of Labor, “Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan” will be reviewed throughout the presentation. This presentation will also promote the use of mitigation strategies including COVID-19 vaccines, current evidence-based resources addressing vaccine confidence, and workplace infection control.

Intended Audience: Farm/Ranch owners and operators, health and safety professionals, safety officers or specialists, managers, supervisors, safety coordinators, health safety and environmental interns, and any person or persons who serve as safety personnel in an agricultural setting.

Objectives: At the conclusion of the program, participants will be able to…
1. Gain an understanding of infectious disease control measures to reduce exposure risks, including the new COVID-19 Delta variant, among agricultural workers and employers.
2. Create an infectious disease assessment and control plan using the recommendations from the CDC and the U.S Department of Labor Agricultural Employer Checklist.
3. Recognize the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in the prevention of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infectious disease in the ag workplace.

This material was produced under grant number SH-99084-SH0 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Summary:  Workers in the agricultural industry experience multiple hazardous respiratory exposures. It is important to understand these risks and to know the appropriate protective equipment to purchase and use. The female workforce often experiences a challenge finding the right protection with a proper fit. This 30-minute program will address both the risks and the right protective gear.

Intended audience: The primary audience for this program will be agricultural production workers, including female workers, and agricultural business managers

Objectives (Focus areas): At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to: 

• Identify common respiratory exposures that put workers at risk for respiratory illness
• Recognize appropriate respiratory protection for workers, co-workers, or family members
• Understand the difference between a respirator and a fabric or paper mask – sorting out the language
• Access evidence-based information related to respiratory protection

This material was produced under grant number SH-05172-SH9 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Summary: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has profoundly affected humans on a global scale in a noticeably short time. Individuals working in agriculture who, as “essential workers", are exempt from stay-home mandates, and are naturally at increased risk of negative health, economic, social, and familial consequences from the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Language and cultural differences, rural geographies, socioeconomic pressures, and immigration status are among the barriers that impede agricultural workers access to critical education and prevention technologies emerging to combat COVID-19. Additionally, the unusual persistence and multimodal transmission cycle of SARS-CoV-2 emerging from ongoing scientific study may require customization of otherwise standard prevention messaging to agricultural workers to further prevent infection and disease exacerbation.

Contact tracing is a tool that can help slow the spread of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Contact tracing helps protect you and your employees by: Letting people know they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Helping people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested, self-quarantine or isolate to prevent spread of disease (CDC).

Intended Audience: Farm/Ranch owner and operators, health and safety professionals, safety officers or specialists, managers, supervisors, safety coordinators, health safety and environmental interns and any person or persons who serve as safety personnel in an agricultural setting.

Objectives: At the conclusion of the program, participants will be able to...

1. Explain the importance of COVID-19 occurrence, distribution and control for agricultural safety. 
2. Understand how COVID-19 particularly impacts rural areas. 
3. Identify ways to limit the spread of COVID-19 in an agricultural work environment through contact tracing.
4. Document at least three evidence based resources on COVID-19 safety in the workplace.

This material was produced under grant number SH-99084-SH0 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Summary: Tick borne illnesses often go undetected for years. Our speakers will provide unique perspectives from clinicians, resource development, and emotional support of those suffering with Lyme disease. The webinar will provide up to date education, understanding of the complex disease presentation, Lyme disease resources and awareness of the long-term effects for physical and mental health.

Objectives: By the end of this webinar participants will be able to...
- Describe Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, and their regional variation
- Describe symptoms of Lyme disease- early and late stage
- Understand the complexities of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), persistence, and secondary diseases/damage
- Understand the appropriate use of diagnostic tests for Lyme Disease

Intended Audience: This course is intended for health and safety professionals, Ag extension professionals, educators, and individuals involved in working and recreation outdoors.

Continuing Education is Available: The Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety offers 0.1 CEU or 1.0 contact hours of participation. This course is eligible for 1.0 CPH Recertification Credits and is sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, an approved provider of CPH Recertification Credits by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. The following groups of professionals have been able to use these CEUs in the past; Industrial Hygiene (CIH), Certified Public Health Professional(CPH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Nursing (RN, LPN), Social Work (LSW), Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Audiology (ABA), and others. Please contact your accrediting agency regarding any questions about receiving credits.

This Train the Trainer course is designed for teachers, Extension staff, 4H and FFA leaders and others who work with young adults. Agriculture is ranked as one of the most dangerous occupations and involves workers and family members of all ages. Illness and injuries can be prevented if we use the right protective equipment for the job. This program will present an overview of common exposures in farming and ranching and identify appropriate personal protective equipment.

At the conclusion of the program, participants/educators will be able to: 

1. Review several of the indicators related to use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in agriculture 
2. Access personal protective (PPE) educational material developed for classroom use
3. Select decision making activities from programs designed for classroom time frames
4. Identify safety and health resources for use in educational settings

Invest in Your Health is supported by:

This is the presentation slides for the webinar Respiratory Protection Program Overview in COVID-19 and Beyond (June 30, 2021), the recording of this webinar is not available. 

Summary: Many COVID-19 related US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations have been issued for missing key elements of a respiratory protection program. This session will cover the requirements of OSHA’s respiratory protection program, 29 CFR 1910.134, with emphasis on key areas noted in the COVID-19 citations and related temporary enforcement guidance; the differences between respirators types, surgical masks and face coverings; and optimizing respirator use during shortages.

Intended Audience: Agriculture, food and beverage safety and health professionals

Summary: Wildfires have become a persistent health threat for people working in agriculture. This webinar will focus on understanding the risks of exposure to wildfire smoke and potential strategies for responding to protect human health. Best practices for protecting worker health will be shared based on California's requirements along with resources for talking with agricultural workers about wildfire exposure risks.

Intended Audience: farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, agricultural workers, employers, agricultural safety and health professions, health professionals

Objectives: By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to…  

- Establish key concerns surrounding agricultural workers and exposure to wildfire smoke  

- Identify existing information gaps and propose potential solutions  

- Present preliminary efforts to develop a response framework targeted to farmers and ranchers  

- List best practices for protecting worker health during wildfire conditions  

- Identify at least one resource for sharing with ag workers related to wildfires

In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General called for increased awareness and availability of naloxone, the opioid antagonist, to reverse the effects of opioid overdose. Despite the rise in the dispensing of naloxone, there is a significant gap in our response across all sectors of society. In the rural parts of our country, where emergency response times can be dangerously long, developing a workplace naloxone availability and use program could ultimately save lives. This webinar will share information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to help employers and workers understand the risk of opioid overdose and the role of naloxone. 

By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Discuss what medications are prescription and illicit opioids and what is OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) 
2. Describe the dangers of opioids in the workplace and OUD for safety-sensitive occupations 
3. Discuss the role of naloxone in opioid overdose 
4. Discuss the implementation of workplace naloxone use programs 
5. Understand the administration of the dosage forms available for naloxone used in an emergency

Sponsored by:

This project was supported by the FY17 USDA NIFA Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2017-46100-27225 and the FY18 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Rural Opioids Technical Assistance Grants (ROTA) # TI-18-022

Continuing Education:

The Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety offers 0.1 CEU or 1.0 contact hours of participation. This course is eligible for 1.0 CPH Recertification Credits and is sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, an approved provider of CPH Recertification Credits by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. The following groups of professionals have been able to use these CEUs in the past; Industrial Hygiene (CIH), Certified Public Health Professional(CPH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Nursing (RN, LPN), Social Work (LSW), Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Audiology (ABA), and others.  Please contact your accrediting agency regarding any questions about receiving credits.

For more information on courses and continuing education, please visit- https://learning.agrisafe.org/opioid-misuse-prevention

Summary: Stigma exists across all age groups for those struggling with mental health. Navigation of the teen years in everyday situations can create angst and uncomfortable feelings that are difficult to express. Adding mental illness and mental crisis to a teen or young adult’s typical growth and development makes struggling with emotions, relationships, academic success, and safety more challenging. According to the CDC, rates of depression and anxiety climb significantly during the ages of 12-17. Suicide is the second leading cause of death of youths in the United States. This module opens an introductory discussion of mental health among teens and young adults with guidance from an adult educator. Focus is placed on decreasing stigma, improving mental health literacy, and positive coping skills for teens and young adults. The module showcases a high school agricultural student’s understanding of the agricultural mental health crisis, helping to frame mental health distress to academic and future career success. 

 Objectives: After the module, teens and young adults will be able to....

1. Understand the relationship of mental health to physical health and academic or career success 
2. Recognize basic signs or symptoms that present when young adults experience mental stress 
3. Identify healthy and unhealthy coping behaviors when faced with mental distress 
4. Communicate their concerns when suspecting they or someone they know is experiencing a mental health crisis 

Intended Audience: This Train the Trainer course is designed for teachers, Extension staff, 4H and FFA leaders and others who work with young adults.

Invest in Your Health is supported by: