New technologies and worker safety in western agriculture.
The New Paths: Health and Safety in Western Agriculture conference, November 11-13, 2008, highlighted the role of technological innovation in agricultural production. The tree fruit industry in the Pacific Northwest has adopted a "technology road map" to reduce production costs and improve efficiency. An agricultural tour provided field demonstrations and discussions on such topics as mobile work platforms in orchards, traumatic and musculoskeletal injuries, and new pest control technologies. Occupational safety and health research will need to adapt to and keep pace with rapid changes in agricultural production processes.
Fenske
Richard A
RA
Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. rfenske@u.washington.edu
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D000383:Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D010571:Pest Control; D013672:Technology; D014481:United States