MRASH conference to highlight safety and health of vulnerable farmworkers

MRASH conference to highlight safety and health of vulnerable farmworkers

Virtual conference places the spotlight on immigrants, migrant and seasonal workers, veterans, women, children, and indigenous populations in agriculture with the hope of improving access to health and safety resources.

Contact: Jenn Patterson, GPCAH Coordinator (jennifer-j-patterson@uiowa.edu); 319-594-2704)

Publish date: 10/5/2021

Farm workers across the U.S. are essential workers, showing up every day so we can have food in our markets and on our tables. Aside from the ongoing hazards caused by COVID-19 and a national drought, vulnerable farmers risk injury and illness when planting, spraying, harvesting, and caring for livestock. The risks of these hazards increase with long working hours and can be magnified where language and cultural differences exist.

This November, the Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Conference (MRASH) turns its attention to farm safety and health to shine a light on vulnerable workers in agriculture. Every morning from November 9 through 12, MRASH will lead discussions on these and other topics such as stress, machinery safety, aging, and young workers.

Assistant Professor Athena Ramos from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health will moderate an important keynote panel made up of leaders in the field on Tuesday, November 9 at 9 am.

Ramos notes, “It is vital to recognize and better understand vulnerable populations working in agriculture so that we can improve outreach, education, and services to meet the needs of this diverse workforce. I’m excited that we can provide a space for this discussion and enhance the visibility of some of the critical issues that affect worker well-being.” 

Drs. Jan and Cornelia Flora, rural sociologists well-versed in migrant, immigrant and indigenous issues — will kick off the discussion portion of “Raising the Cloak of Invisibility for Vulnerable Populations” which will most certainly set the tone for the rest of the conference.

Since this year’s conference is virtual, registration will be free for students, farmers, FFA/Voc Ag instructors and health care workers.  MRASH organizers want to encourage all interested safety and health advocates to participate in the discussion. Conference attendees are invited to attend the online pre-conference workshop on Monday, November 8th at 4 pm to learn about a new tool for assessing farm safety. A student career session will take place at 8:15 on Wednesday morning. Poster sessions, round tables, and Q&A breakout sessions will create additional opportunities for attendees.

Conference Organizer Gayle Olson from Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health said, “We are working hard to find new and creative ways to help build connections and create a solid online community this year,” said Gayle Olson, Assistant to the Director of Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health.

Visit https://icash.public-health.uiowa.edu/2021-mrash/ to register for the event, strengthen your network, and join in MRASH’s effort to make agricultural work safe for all farmworkers. 

MRASH is sponsored by I-CASH, CS-CASH and GPCAH

For MRASH updates: follow GPCAH on Facebook and Twitter  (#MRASH2021).

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Callouts and Photo

MRASH Conference

In 1990, the Iowa State Legislature identified a need for a statewide center addressing concerns in agricultural safety and health. Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health came out of that legislative session and continues to be one of the only mandated, state-funded centers for agricultural safety and health in the country.

Designated as a collaborative effort between four Iowa institutions: The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, I-CASH works to improve the health and safety of the agricultural population by developing statewide prevention and educational initiatives.

Although there have been many structural and technological changes in Iowa’s agriculture, farm-related injuries and fatalities remain higher than those in other industries.

Photo:

a photo from 2020 virtual conference showing some participants

 

 

 

 

 

From 2020 MRASH Conference (virtual)

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Public Health, Farmers, Farm Bureau, Extension, Ag-related media (written, news, and radio); State Rural Health Associations; Mental Health advocacy networks; community college networks