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Rural Health
News by Topic: Occupational health and safety

Jun 19, 2024 - Highlights a new campaign to reduce injuries occurred while cutting grass, with particular focus on youth working on farms. Notes previous campaigns related to youth on farm equipment. Offers recommendations for safely operating lawn mower equipment for youth.
Source: Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
May 31, 2024 - Details federal efforts to respond to the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle and mitigate risks to farmworkers. Highlights initiatives related to PPE distribution, safety guidance, treatment, education, and testing.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 30, 2024 - Discusses the increased risk of H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, for farmworkers. Notes the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and farmworker education on appropriate use of PPE.
Source: The Associated Press
May 30, 2024 - Discusses Wisconsin law permitting children as young as 12 to operate agricultural equipment on public roads. Outlines concerns from researchers regarding child cognitive development and increasing traffic accidents involving agricultural equipment.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
May 21, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is requesting information regarding its Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) investigation and report process for traumatic injuries. NIOSH is interested in how human factors might be considered during investigations, including, but not limited to, communication, team dynamics, psychological stress, and safety culture, and how these factors impact decision-making during responses. Information collected will be used to improve reporting templates and processes to provide a holistic lens into the causes and prevention of line-of-duty deaths (LODD). Comments are due by July 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 14, 2024 - Describes the work of the AgrAbility project, part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant program in which land grant universities partner with disability nonprofits in 22 states. Michigan AgrAbility supported 215 clients in 2023, and is a partnership is between Michigan State University Extension and Easterseals MORC.
Source: Easterseals Blog
May 10, 2024 - Describes steps taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help reduce the impact of H5N1 on bovines and humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are increasing screening and testing capacity, genomic sequencing, and other interventions to protect the safety of dairy and other food items.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 7, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on a proposed information collection titled "Assessing Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Occupational Well-Being from The PRIDE Study." The survey will be a modified version of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (Well-BQ) to establish descriptive baseline health information on U.S. SGM workers, describe factors that may be associated with SGM worker health and well-being outcomes, and improve the capabilities of The PRIDE Study to better assess the work-related health experiences of the SGM workforce. Comments are due by July 8, 2024.
Source: Federal Register