Research and public education related to farm health and safety issues recently received a boost in the form of a new $3.8 million grant from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. The grant will continue for five years the activities of the UC Agricultural Health and Safety Center at Davis, which is headquartered at UC Davis.

"I'm delighted to have a commitment for five more years of support by the national institute for the important work of the center," said Marc Schenker, a professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine and director of the center. Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous industries in the country, and many of the illnesses, injuries and deaths are preventable.

"Healthy farmers and farm workers are a resource for California and the country," he added. "It is the goal of this center to prevent injury and promote wellness in this large and important population."

Founded in 1990, the center is one of nine agricultural health and safety centers established in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control to protect and improve the health and safety of the nation's farmers, farm workers and consumers. Research at the Davis center has particularly focused on issues affecting agriculture in the Western United States.

Researchers affiliated with the center have studied ergonomic issues to prevent injuries in labor-intensive fruit and vegetable crops. They also have examined exposure to harmful levels of agricultural dust and pesticide, and designed educational programs to protect children of farm workers from health and safety hazards.

Their work has resulted in development of new tools and techniques to reduce the stress and strain of repetitive agricultural tasks, new tests to measure pesticide exposure, and a new surveillance system to identify situations that pose a particular risk of respiratory disease to workers.

The center also has developed educational conferences, workshops and educational seminars to share its research findings with other farmers and farm workers, health professionals and the general public.