National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998, 800-35-NIOSH (800-356-4674). Web site address: www.cdc.gov/niosh.

NIOSH Agricultural Health and Safety Centers

Deep-South Center for Agricultural Disease & Injury, Research Education & Prevention. University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612-3805. Phone: 813-974-6661.

Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kentucky, 1141 Red Mile Rd., Suite 102, Lexington, KY 40504-9842. Phone: 606-323-6836.

Northeast Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health. One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Phone: 607-547-6023.

Midwest Center for Agricultural Research, Education, and Disease and Injury Prevention. National Farm Medicine Center, 1000 North Oak Avenue, Marshfield, WI 54449-5790. Phone: 715-387-9298.

Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. 100 Oakdale Campus, #124 AMRF, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-5000. Phone: 319-335-4412.

Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury and Education. The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, Tyler, TX 75708. Phone: 903-877-5896.

High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety. 154B Environmental Health Bldg., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1681. Phone: 970-491-6151.

University of California Agricultural Health and Safety Center at Davis. Old Davis Rd., University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616-8757. Phone: 530-752-5253.

Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center. Department of Environmental Health, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7234. Phone: 206-685-8962.

NIOSH Publications

The following are free from the NIOSH Publications Office. Call 800-356-4674 or fax 513- 533-8573.

Elements of Ergonomics Programs: A Primer based on Workplace Evaluations of Musculoskeletal Disorders. 1997. A. Cohen, C. Gjessing, L. Fine, B. Bernard, J. McGlothlin, editors. NIOSH Publication No. 97-117. This 132-page book outlines a seven-step process that tells you how to determine whether you need an ergonomics program and how to start one. Chapters include training, reviewing medical data, and developing solutions. Checklists and questionnaires for data gathering are included.

Participatory Ergonomic Interventions in Meatpacking Plants. 1994. By C. Gjessing, T. Schoenborn, and A. Cohen. NIOSH Publication No. 94-124. This 200-page book from NIOSH gives case studies of three companies that set up participatory programs with employees. Although the case studies are in meatpacking plants, the same principles apply in most workplaces.

Other Publications

Easy Ergonomics, A Practical Approach for Improving the Workplace. 1999. Published by the California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA Consultation Service. Copies can be obtained at no charge from Cal/OSHA, Manager, Consultation Education and Training Unit, 2211 Park Towne Circle, Suite 4, Sacramento, CA 95825. 916-574-2528. Although this publication is geared toward general industry, the ideas presented are easily transferable to agriculture.

Blueprintstwo: The Ergonomics Manual. 1990. Published by Comprehensive Loss Management, Inc., Minneapolis. This 40-page guide is designed for supervisors and managers to help employees prevent cumulative trauma disorders. It discusses the risk factors of cumulative trauma disorders and specific prevention strategies, including 80 illustrations. Copies can be obtained for $4.95 each by calling 800-279-0288 ext. 122.

Videos

Listen to Your Body: Safe Lifting, Pushing and Pulling, English/Spanish, 1992, 30 minutes. Illustrates how back injuries occur and demonstrates safe lifting techniques. Made by the University of Florida. Available from: Safety Coordinator, Department of Agricultural and Bio systems Engineering, University of Arizona, Shantz Bldg, Room 403, PO Box 210038, Tucson, AZ 85721-0038. Materials are sent on a loan basis. User agrees to return materials on or before a scheduled date and to pay return shipping costs. Please request materials as far in advance as possible. Telephone requests accepted at 520-626-3134.

Ergonomic Programs That Work, English, 1998, 21 minutes. Shows how several companies resolved ergonomic problems in their workplaces, resulting in higher productivity and fewer lost workdays. Can be borrowed from U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Public Affairs, Room N3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20210. 202-693-1999. osha.videos@osha-slc.gov. Duplication of tape for further use is permitted. Can be bought from NTIS (National Technical Information Service) for $55 +$5 shipping and handling. Call 800-553-6847. Order #AVA20258-VNB1INA.

NIOSH Lifting Equation

This equation is a simple way to determine a recommended weight limit for specific tasks. The equation plugs in factors such as the height from the floor that the object is picked up from, the distance the object is moved, and the frequency of lifts.

The equation and instructions on how to use it are available from the NTIS (National Technical Information Service). Ask for PB94-176930; cost is $12.00 plus $4.00 handling. Write to NTIS, U.S. Dept of Commerce, Technology Administration, Springfield, VA 22161. Call 703-487-4650 or fax 703-321-8547.

Cooperative Extension Services

Contact your local county agricultural extension office. This is usually listed under county government in the phone book, but sometimes under U.S. government (agriculture) or state government.

You can also contact the extension services at land-grant universities. These are the big public universities in each state; in Michigan, for example, Michigan State University. Call the university's agriculture department. For a complete list of university extension services, go to http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/statepartners/usa.htm (click on your state). Or contact CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service), an agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, at USDA, Washington, DC 20250-0900. Phone 202-720-3029. Fax 202-690-0289.

The OSHA Consultation Program

OSHA's free consultation service is delivered by state governments using well-trained professional staff. Consultants can assist you in recognizing potential workplace hazards on your farm and suggest approaches or options for eliminating these hazards. Primarily for smaller, high-hazard businesses with 10 or more employees, this service is completely separate from OSHA enforcement. No citations are issued and no penalties are proposed.

Setting it up: Your phone call or letter sets the machinery in motion. The consultant will discuss your needs with you and set up a visit date. OSHA encourages a complete review of your work environment; however, you may limit the visit to a specific problem, such as ergonomics.

The walk-through: Together, you and the consultant will examine occupational safety and health conditions at your farm. OSHA encourages employee participation in the walk-through. Talking with employees helps the consultant identify and judge any hazards; it also allows the consultant to provide limited informal training, upon request.

The consultant will do an appraisal of all mechanical and environmental hazards and physical work practices, or will look just at the specific operations you designate. You will learn not only what you need to improve, but also what you are doing right. Hazard abatement dates are determined by you and the consultant.

The On-Site Consultant Will:

• Help you recognize occupational safety and health hazards in your workplace.
• Suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health workplace problem.
• Identify kinds of help available if you need further assistance.
• Provide you a written report summarizing findings.
• Assist you in developing or improving your safety and health management system.
• Provide occupational health and safety formal training for you and your employees.

The On-Site Consultant Will Not:

• Issue citations or propose penalties for violations of OSHA standards.
• Report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff.
• Guarantee that your workplace will "pass" an OSHA inspection.

For more information about the OSHA Consultation Program, you can contact the Consultation Project in your state (directory follows) or go to the OSHA web site at www.osha.gov.