I addition to 2 full days of presentations during the symposium on February 27 and 28, a pre-symposium Professional Development Session will be presented by Virginia Tech EHS on Sunday, February 26, "Farm & Agricultural Safety Training Program: Train-the-Trainer."

Farming and agricultural work remains among the United States' most dangerous professions and has significant crossover with today's field research programs.  This one-day train-the-trainer program provides you with the background and materials to teach Virginia Tech's Farm & Agricultural Safety Training (FAST) program.  You will get 13 modules, each with supporting materials, that address specific hazards found in the farm and agricultural workplace. All training materials have been reviewed for technical accuracy by OSHA and are provided in both English and Spanish. Each module focuses on the most common hazards and provides support for workers to recognize, evaluate, and control them. The program relies heavily on support materials such as labels, checklists, and posters to reinforce behaviors within the workplace.

Modules include: an Introduction to Agriculture & OSHA, Falls, Hazardous Chemicals, ATV Safety, Weather Safety, Manure Pit Safety, Farm Machinery Safety, Vehicle Safety, Workplace Violence, Confined Spaces, Hazardous Energy Control, and Fires / Explosions. These modules are designed to focus on establishing safe worker behavior.  All compliance notes refer to federal OSHA guidelines.  Training can be modified to include additional information pertinent to their locality.

The costs of instruction and student materials are funded through a Susan Harwood Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, thus there is no cost to participants. Fees will cover the costs of venue, AV and food.

The Farm & Agricultural Safety Training Program is produced under grant number SH-39188-SH2 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.   It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.