Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center

ABSTRACT The Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health (PNASH) Center, established in 1996 at the University of Washington, conducts research and promotes best occupational health and safety practices for Northwest farming, fishing and forestry. One of nine regional centers, PNASH works throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska integrating expertise from multiple disciplines, institutions and community partners. PNASH's Vision is, Research for healthy workers, strong communities & productive agriculture. The agricultural industries (farming, forestry, and fishing) are foundational to our rural communities and national productivity, yet rank among the most dangerous jobs. Fatality rates exceed the national average by 6-times for farming, 29-times for forestry, and 23-times for commercial fishing. Adding to the safety and health complexity of the worksite is the blended nature of work with community and family, and the dependency on seasonal and contract workers. The PNASH Center proposal is a collaborative effort, integrating research and education among University of Washington investigators and regional institutions and stakeholders. Our institutional partners for this new cycle include: Oregon State University; University of Idaho; and, Washington State University. Our faculty, staff, and students in these partnerships bring expertise in the fields of medicine, industrial hygiene, exposure science, epidemiology, animal and agricultural sciences, forestry, fisheries, engineering and education. Our proposed research includes: animal handling safety; forestry activity recognition; cannabis respiratory health; pesticide application technology, smoke and heat solutions, fishermen lifejacket program, and health indicator monitoring. Our research theme is, Growing agricultural safety and health with technology. Our research is rooted in partnerships with the workers and industries we serve, and builds on their strengths. We use best practices for community-engaged research to collaborate, enabling the Center's interdisciplinary capacity, while maintaining a deep respect for the communities’ cultures and lived experiences. As researchers, we have the capacity to enter and exit communities and therefore carry the responsibility of empowering communities beyond funding cycles. Exiting a research site is as important as entering it, particularly in those with marginalized workers. With this in mind, PNASH Outreach Core places particular emphasis on: (1) returning research progress, results, and workplace solutions in a timely manner with participants, partners, and the public, and (2) sustaining opportunities that empower organizations to adapt our safety and health resources for their own communities.