California Ag Network

Tag: AgSafe

  • AgSafe Expands Training Sessions, Works to Meet Emerging Needs

    For more than 30 years, AgSafe has been a trusted source for safety training and compliance support for the agricultural community.

    The Modesto-based nonprofit has cemented its place in ag training in California and increasingly in other parts of the country as well. Natalie Gupton, the group’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said in just one year, AgSafe increased its training sessions by more than 35%, growing from 204 sessions reaching 3,667 people in 2022–23 to 278 sessions reaching 5,664 people in 2023–24.

    While AgSafe continues to provide essential training in worker safety, human resources and pesticide handling, the organization is also expanding its offerings to meet emerging needs in the ag industry, said President and Chief Executive Officer Theresa Kiehn.

    “We’ve spent the past five years really focusing on our supervisors because they are the ones that get so much done for our industry,” Kiehn said. “We are sponsoring classes on training the trainers, trying to help supervisors with everything from equipment safety – so tractor, forklift, ATV/UTV accident prevention – to HR topics like wage and hour and sexual harassment prevention.

    “Many of us in our roles get regular professional development, so we’re working to make sure that our ag sector is getting that as well, especially those in supervisors’ roles. We’re making sure that we’re professionalizing our industry.”

    Kiehn, who has been with AgSafe since 2009 and CEO since 2020, noted that the group has developed the Supervisors Development Academy, a five-section 20-hour program that talks about what it means to be a supervisor, how to lead teams, how to have difficult conversations and to work on people skills.

    Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, emphasized the critical importance of workforce education in promoting safe practices across agriculture.

    “Safety remains a top priority in the ag industry, and AgSafe has demonstrated exceptional leadership over the past 34 years by training more than 150,000 people,” said Hesterberg. “Today’s agricultural workforce faces a broader range of challenges, making AgSafe’s expanded, holistic approach more vital than ever. These comprehensive programs are essential to meeting the evolving needs of our industry well into the future.”

    Kevin Ralph, AgWest Farm Credit’s California President, said AgSafe’s signature safety conference, often held in Monterey, is also a great benefit.

    “More than 500 people attend the conference, which features more than 50 classes focusing on health, safety, human resources and leadership development, in English and Spanish,” Ralph said. “AgSafe brings in Spanish-speaking experts from key regulatory agencies to discuss the top citations and how to prevent them, and to make sure everyone is up to date. Farm Credit is proud to have sponsored the conference for many years and to have been a longstanding AgSafe associate member.”

    Farm Credit associations supporting AgSafe are AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, and Fresno Madera Farm Credit. These organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    Kiehn said Farm Credit has been a great partner.

    “We never want cost to be a barrier for folks to participate, and Farm Credit’s support has allowed us to reduce costs to ensure that we maximize participation. Farm Credit also has been one of the foundational partners that allows us to grow and maintain our helpline service. And finally, its information has been valuable to our network and whenever we’re able to share it we try to do so,” she said.

    AgSafe was formed in 1990 as increasing state and federal regulations made an injury and illness prevention program necessary. At first a coalition, it earned its 501(c)3 status in 1991 and began transitioning to a professional membership-based organization in 1994.

    But the organization isn’t content to rest on its laurels. It is developing two new program areas – stress management and making sure workers are safe around new and emerging technologies that are reshaping agriculture.

    “We want to bring in different techniques to help people manage their stress. Farming is a very, very tough industry, whether you’re an owner or a worker. Giving people resources and ways they can manage that in the right way helps them personally and helps the employer as well because a happy, healthy worker can translate into a more productive company,” Gupton said.

    She added that the rapid growth of robotics and autonomous equipment requires the industry to carefully evaluate potential safety issues and develop training to address them.

    “We’re seeing a rapid rise in robotics and autonomous equipment, and it’s essential to take a step back and evaluate their safety implications,” Gupton said. “Our goal is to develop proactive training to ensure these technologies can be adopted safely and effectively.”

    About Farm Credit:

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com

    About AgSafe Food & Farms:

    AgSafe, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, is the educational leader that provides practical safety and education to the agricultural community. Since 1991 AgSafe has trained over 100,000 employers, supervisors and farm workers in the most critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources and pesticide safety. AgSafe employs a “boots on the ground” approach to these topics, teaching both the “why” and “how” to protect workers in the field, as well as packing, processing and food manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit https://agsafe.org.

  • AgSafe Unveils Free Social Media Toolkit to Strengthen Ag Employee Relations

    AgSafe is proud to announce the launch of its Social Media Toolkit—a free new resource designed to help agricultural employers strengthen relationships with employees by using effective and consistent communication, both in and out of the field. This valuable resource, funded by the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center in 2023, offers practical tools such as ready-to-use templates and customizable content to help organizations create consistency in how they apply their values both online and offline.

    According to a 2024 SHRM study, 70% of employees leave their organization because of issues with workplace culture, with many feeling their organization does not promote a positive work environment. To tackle this problem, AgSafe is introducing this new resource to help employers strengthen and support their employees. Designed to promote consistent and intentional communication practices across all platforms, the Social Media Toolkit reinforces the importance of employee recognition as well as relationship building to create a stronger workplace culture.

    In agriculture, having good relationships between employers and workers is key to a safe and productive workplace. The Social Media Toolkit highlights how important it is to communicate in many ways, not just in person or through written communication. By using social media in a way that matches the values and practices in the field, employers can increase job satisfaction, build brand loyalty, and stay in line with labor compliance and safety standards.

    The toolkit offers different written and visual examples that companies can use or tweak to fit their organization’s unique voice. This helps save time and keeps the message in line with the company’s promise to value and support its workers.

    Photo Caption: Athena Ushana

    “Good communication is essential for building strong, trust-based relationships with employees. When this communication is also done on social media, newsletters, and other public channels, it strengthens the support and respect employees feel in their daily jobs, making them more engaged and loyal,” said Athena Ushana, Program and Communications Manager at AgSafe.

    “Social media can be leveraged to help communicate a company’s values and their commitment to employee well-being.” added Theresa Kiehn, President and CEO at AgSafe.

    For more information, access the Social Media Toolkit here: https://agsafe.info/relations.

    AgSafe, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, has been the educational leader in agricultural safety and human resources since 1991. AgSafe has trained over 100,000 employers, supervisors, and farm workers on the most critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources, and pesticide safety. With a “boots on the ground” approach, AgSafe teaches both the “why” and “how” of protecting workers in the field, packing, processing, and food manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit https://agsafe.org.

  • ACTIVATE24: Valued Agriculture Workforce Development Conference Returns to Monterey

    Over 500 agricultural safety and HR professionals, farm managers and supervisors, labor contractors and farm owners will be converging on the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, CA, February 20-22, 2024, for ACTIVATE24, hosted by AgSafe.

    “ACTIVATE24 is a one-of-a-kind, annual conference, focused on the industry’s most vital resource, its people. With more than 50 sessions being offered in English and Spanish, this two-day conference will cover a wide range of critical topics from the fundamentals of health and safety — such as mental workplace health and compliance planning — to regulatory compliance, workforce development and pesticide handling,” Theresa Kiehn, AgSafe President and CEO. “Special emphasis is given to providing practical information, solutions, resources and professional development for agricultural supervisors, safety and human resources professionals and executives alike. The value for attendees is significant.”

    AgSafe, a non-profit membership organization, is the leader in educational training for the agricultural community. AgSafe’s focus is to provide practical education, with a “boots on the ground” approach, teaching both the “why” and “how” to protect workers in the field, as well as packing, processing and food manufacturing facilities.

    ACTIVATE24 kicks off on the morning of February 20 with the popular Pre-Conference Golf Scramble at the historic Old Del Monte Golf Course. In addition to the main conference program, which was developed with input from industry professionals, supplemental seminars are offered to Train-the-Trainers in Tractor Safety and Pesticide Handling. Premium tracks are also available for California Human Resources Certificate Program, California Agricultural Safety Certificate Program and Supervisor Advancement Seminar.  FLC Continuing Education is also available.

    Marshal Sewell, who grew up on a fifth-generation fruit and vegetable farm and is founder of Mind Your Melon (https://mindyourmelon.org/), will be providing keynote remarks on the stressors in agricultural communities and on Inspiring Healthier Minds Through Proactive Lifestyles.

    Tina Huff, PhD, SHRM-SCP will be presenting the Plenary Session to help every employee be successful at work – helping companies reach and exceed their goals. She is a former Chief People Officer / Vice President of Human Resources with over 30 years of experience across multiple industries including agriculture, contact centers, food processing, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail/grocery.

    Winners of the annual AllWays Safe Agricultural Safety Awards will also be unveiled at ACTIVATE24. A collaboration between AgSafe and the Almond Board of California, this award is designed to honor businesses and individuals that have committed themselves towards ensuring the safety and health of their workers. Awards will be presented in the categories of lifetime achievement, outstanding company,  safety professional and operations/production supervisor.

    As in past years, ACTIVATE24 is expected to sell out, yet AgSafe has just announced an extension of the discounted registration deadline, which is now available until February 13. For details and registration information, visit https://agsafe.org/activate24/.

    About AgSafe

    AgSafe, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, is the educational leader Since 1991 AgSafe has trained over 100,000 employers, supervisors and farm workers in the most critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources and pesticide safety. AgSafe employs a “boots on the ground” approach to these topics, teaching both the “why” and “how” to protect workers in the field, as well as packing, processing and food manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit https://agsafe.org/.

  • AgSafe Salutes Departing President and Launches Candidate Search

    AgSafe (agsafe.org), a leading provider of health and safety education to the agricultural community, has announced that President & CEO Amy Wolfe will be leaving the organization and that a search for her replacement is underway. Wolfe, who has led the organization for more than a decade, will vacate her position in June 2020.

    “Amy has been a remarkable leader, and both our organization and the employers and workers that we serve owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude for her dedicated service and guidance,” said Don Winn, Board Chairman of AgSafe. “We’ve launched an exhaustive search to find the candidate best qualified to take the reins at AgSafe and continue our mission of providing practical health and safety education to the agricultural community.”AgSafe is leveraging many platforms in its search for a new president and CEO, whose responsibilities will include providing strategic direction for the organization, managing the AgSafe leadership team, ensuring regulatory compliance and representing the organization as its lead public spokesperson.“My work at AgSafe has been extremely fulfilling and rewarding,” said Wolfe. “It’s not easy to leave but doing so is the right thing for me and my family at this stage of life. And, I’ll move on knowing that this incredible organization is in good hands with an outstanding leadership team who will find an exceptional agriculture industry professional to take on the president/CEO role.”AgSafe is seeking candidates with backgrounds that include:

    • Minimum six to eight years of non-profit management and fund development experience, preferably within a comparable business environment
    • Expertise in occupational safety and health, human resources, agricultural business management and/or workforce development
    • Expertise in cultivating and stewarding partnerships and other collaborative business agreements
    • Strong communication skills including written, verbal and listening
    • Proven track record in fund and resource development, including traditional and emerging strategies
    • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with major course work in business administration/management, public policy and/or a related field
    • Professional certifications, licenses and/or accreditations specific to fund development, agriculture, human resources and/or occupational safety and health desirable

    They must also exhibit leadership competencies that include confidence, organizational awareness, trustworthiness, initiative, optimism, empathy and achievement orientation. Interested parties can apply by sending a cover letter, resume and contact information for five individuals who can speak to their accomplishments and potential for success to:

    Don Winn, Chairman
    AgSafe
    PO Box 1011
    Modesto, CA 95353
    (209) 526-4400 business
    (209) 526-4404 fax

    About AgSafe:

    AgSafe is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide practical health and safety education to the agricultural community. Founded in 1991 and based in Modesto, CA, our organization has trained over 75,000 employers, supervisors and farm workers in the most critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources, pesticide safety and food safety. Visit agsafe.org for more information.

  • Understanding the Heat Illness Prevention Regulations

    By Anna Genasci, QAL, Assistant Director of Education, AgSafe

    Don’t be fooled by end of the summer cooler temperatures.  Harvest is still underway for many ag commodities, and heat stress is still a major concern for our farm employees.  It is important to understand not only the precautions to take to keep employees safe while working in the heat, but also the elements of compliance.

    According to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Cal/OSHA, their most frequently cited violations in agriculture under the Heat Illness Prevention Standard are failure to have a heat illness prevention plan in the field, a lack of heat illness prevention training, and a failure to provide adequate shade and water.  If that’s the case, it begs the question of what exactly does the standard require?

    #1 Heat Illness Prevention Plan:

    A company needs to have a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan with the following elements, and include specific details as to how you will ensure that the provisions are met:

    • The designated person(s) that have the authority and responsibility for implementing the plan in the field
    • Procedures for providing sufficient water
    • Procedures for providing access to shade
    • High-heat procedures
    • Emergency response procedures
      • Don’t forget your lone workers (g.irrigators)
    • Acclimatization methods and procedures

    When drafting your plan, it is important to consider the size of your crew, the length of the work day, the ambient temperatures, and any additional personal protective equipment (PPE) that contributes as an additional source of heat.   The plan needs to be in English and also the language understood by the majority of the employees and must be located at the worksite and accessible to employees.

    #2 Heat Illness Prevention Training Topics:

    Employee training needs to be done before an employee begins work, which could result in the risk of heat illness.  Training should cover the following information:

    • The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness, as well as the added burden of heat load on the body caused by exertion, clothing, and personal protective equipment.
    • The employer’s procedures for complying with the requirements including the employer’s responsibility to provide water, shade, cool-down rests, and access to first aid as well as the employees’ right to exercise their rights.
    • The importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water throughout the workday.
    • The concept, importance and methods of acclimatization.
    • The different types of heat illness, the common signs and symptoms of heat illness, and appropriate first aid and emergency responses to the different types of heat illness, and that heat illness may progress quickly from mild symptoms to serious and life-threatening illness.
    • The importance to employees of immediately reporting to the employer, directly or through the employee’s supervisor, signs or symptoms of heat illness experienced by themselves or their co-workers.
    • The employer’s procedures for responding to signs or symptoms of possible heat illness, including how emergency medical services will be provided should they become necessary.
    • The employer’s procedures for contacting emergency medical services, and when necessary transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider.
    • The employer’s procedures for ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, clear and precise directions to the work site can and will be provided as needed to emergency responders. These procedures shall include designating a person to be available to ensure that emergency procedures are initiated when appropriate. 
    Training must include the different types of heat illness, the common signs and symptoms of heat illness, and appropriate first aid and emergency responses to the different types of heat illness, and that heat illness may progress quickly from mild symptoms to serious and life threatening illness.

    Supervisor training needs to be completed prior to supervising employees and include the following topics:

    • All of the topics covered during employee training.
    • The procedures the supervisor is to follow to implement the heat illness prevention plan procedures.
    • The protocol a supervisor is to follow when an employee exhibits signs or reports symptoms consistent with possible heat illness, including emergency response procedures.
    • How to monitor weather reports and how to respond to hot weather advisories.

    #3 Adequate Shade and Water:

    The amount of shade present shall be at least enough to accommodate the number of employees on recovery or rest periods, so that they can sit in a normal posture fully in the shade without having to be in physical contact with each other.

    Shade

    Adequate shade means blockage of direct sunlight. One indicator that blockage is sufficient is when objects do not cast a shadow in the area of blocked sunlight. Shade is not adequate when heat in the area of shade defeats the purpose of shade, which is to allow the body to cool. For example, a car sitting in the sun does not provide acceptable shade to a person inside it, unless the car is running with air conditioning. Shade may be provided by any natural or artificial means that does not expose employees to unsafe or unhealthy conditions and that does not deter or discourage access or use.

    Shade needs to available when the temperature exceeds 80-degrees Fahrenheit. How do you know when temperatures hit 80 degrees? Cal/OSHA urges employers to not rely on your cell phone because it does not reflect the site-specific temperatures.  The best practice is to invest in and daily use an outdoor thermometer.

    The amount of shade present shall be at least enough to accommodate the number of employees on recovery or rest periods, so that they can sit in a normal posture fully in the shade without having to be in physical contact with each other.  The shade shall be located as close as practicable to the areas where employees are working.  Shade also needs to be available, even when the temperature does not exceed 80-degrees Fahrenheit, upon employee request.

    Water

    Employees shall have access to potable drinking water. It must be fresh, pure, suitably cool, and provided to employees free of charge. The water shall be located as close as practicable to the areas where employees are working. Where drinking water is not plumbed or otherwise continuously supplied, it shall be provided in a sufficient quantity at the beginning of the work shift to provide one quart per employee per hour for drinking for the entire shift. Employers may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if they have effective procedures for replenishment during the shift as needed to allow employees to drink one quart or more per hour.

    Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Standard on the Horizon

    In 2016 the legislature passed and Governor Brown signed into Senate Bill 1167 which directed Cal/OSHA to propose a heat illness and injury prevention standard applicable to employees working in indoor places of employment.  The agency has until January 1, 2019 to develop the proposed standard to be sent to the Cal/OSHA Standards Board for regulatory review and possible adoption. As is its practice, in February 2017 Cal/OSHA assembled an Advisory Committee to allow all impacted stakeholders to provide input into the crafting of the proposed standard.

    The Advisory Committee has met multiple times since its formation, allowing Cal/OSHA staff to produce draft text of the standard.  On May 16, 2018 the most current version of the proposed language was made available for public comment, which closed on June 7, 2018. The agency anticipates releasing the next draft version in late summer/early fall, reflecting the latest round of feedback.

    In summary, the most current version of the draft language addresses the issue of mitigating heat illness in indoor places of employment, including agriculture as follows:

    • Applies to all indoor work areas regardless of industry when workers wear clothing that restricts heat removal and the temperatures equal or exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Applies to all other indoor work areas not previously mentioned where temperatures equal or exceed 85-degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present.
    • Similar to the outdoor heat illness prevention standard:
      • Provide fresh, pure, suitably cool water at no cost, located as close as practicable to employees
      • Maintain at least 1 cool-down area at all times with enough space to accommodate all employees on break, sitting in normal posture without touching one another
      • Provide appropriate first aid/emergency response if employee exhibits signs or symptoms of heat illness
      • Implement temperature assessment, documentation and control measures when temperatures equal or exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit
      • Have a written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan that includes appropriate emergency response procedures
      • Ensure close observation of employees during acclimatization
      • Provide training for employees and supervisors prior to possible exposure

    To read the complete draft text and stay up-to-date on the process as it continues to unfold, visit https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/doshreg/Heat-illness-prevention-indoors/

    For more information about heat illness prevention, worker safety, human resources, labor relations, pesticide safety, or food safety issues, please visit www.agsafe.org, contact us at (209) 526-4400 or via email at safeinfo@agsafe.org. AgSafe is a 501c3 nonprofit providing training, education, outreach, and tools in the areas of worker safety, human resources, labor relations, pesticide safety, and food safety issues for the food and farming industries.  Since 1991, AgSafe has educated nearly 75,000 employers, supervisors, and workers on these critical issues.