NIOSH Publishes Final Research Agenda for Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
The agenda document says during 2011-14, seafood processing workers experienced the highest injury/illness rate among all maritime workers: 6,286 injuries and illnesses per 100,000 workers, according to 2016 BLS data.
NIOSH has published the final National Occupational Research Agenda for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing. The document is intended to identify the knowledge and actions most urgently needed to identify occupational risk factors to prevent avoidable adverse health outcomes among workers, and it describes the most relevant safety and health issues, research gaps, and needs for these industries.
The document lists four objectives for agriculture, four for forestry, and five for fishing.
Agriculture objectives:
- Reduce the risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries to workers in the agricultural sub-sector, including from falls, livestock, moving vehicles and heavy machinery, grain bins and augurs, and workplace violence
- Reduce the risk of occupational illnesses to workers in the agricultural sub-sector, including heat illnesses, respiratory and ergonomic hazards, and hazards related to chemicals and pesticides
- Improve reporting and surveillance of injury and illness data in the sub-sector
- Reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in vulnerable worker populations in the sub-sector
Forestry objectives:
- Reduce the risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries to workers in the forestry sub-sector, including from noise, forest debris, extreme weather, motorized vehicles and heavy machinery, tools used for cutting and moving trees, fire hazards, and electric power lines
- Reduce the risk of occupational illnesses to workers in the sub-sector, including back and neck pain and exposures to noise, vibration, pesticides, and toxic chemicals
- Increase data meshing, information sharing, and collaboration among researchers in this sub-sector
- Reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in vulnerable worker populations in the sub-sector
Fishing objectives:
- Reduce the risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries to workers in the commercial fishing sub-sector, including from vessel disasters, fire, explosions, and icing
- Reduce the risk of occupational illnesses to workers in the sub-sector
- Increase safety and health data meshing, information sharing, and collaboration among researchers in this sub-sector
- Reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in vulnerable worker populations in the sub-sector
- Reduce the risk of illnesses and injuries in the seafood processing industry, including ergonomic injuries
The agenda document says during 2011-14, seafood processing workers experienced the highest injury/illness rate among all maritime workers: 6,286 injuries and illnesses per 100,000 workers, according to 2016 BLS data.
NIOSH said the agenda was developed collaboratively, beginning with web-based meetings and conversation in late winter 2016 and extending into summer 2017.