Overview
Out lab is part of UC Davis, a land-grant university, and is committed to providing outreach and free educational resources to farmers, in alignment with the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. A significant portion of our work involves developing and delivering outreach materials through practical research and extension programs. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. Our mission is to address these concerns by creating and disseminating materials focused on improving worker safety and health in agricultural settings. Through these outreach efforts, we aim to enhance safety standards and support the well-being of workers across California's agricultural sector.
Lab Hosted/Co-Hosted Events
Agricultural Equipment Safety (Cal/OSHA training)
In 2023 and 2024, the lab hosted two groups of CAL/OSHA officers, providing training on agricultural equipment safety. The 2023 event was a one-day session, while the 2024 event expanded to two days at CAL/OSHA's request. Topics included robotic safety, ATV safety, welding, irrigation safety, and tractor operation, all held at the Western Center for Agricultural Equipment (WCAE). A total of 38 officers from different regions participated in both events, with 12 instructors and teaching assistants collaborating. CAL/OSHA found the workshop extremely valuable in general and expressed interest in continuing this training program in the future. We are currently planning the training for the third year. Some comments include “Best class I have had with the State,” “Enjoyed it thoroughly,” and “Thanks for all the resources and hands-on training for someone like me who learns through hands-on experience
Emerging Technology Workshop
We co-hosted the workshop "Emerging Technology in Agriculture: Keeping Health & Safety at the Forefront" in collaboration with WCAHS on May 11, 2023. The event addressed regulatory gaps in agricultural safety, particularly related to autonomous vehicles. It featured eight presentations from academia, industry, and government experts and discussed the implications of new technology for farmworker safety. The workshop concluded with roundtable sessions to explore solutions and ongoing challenges. A total of 43 participants were invited and participated, including key representatives from academia, industry, farmer advocates, and government (CAL/OSHA, CDPR, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture). Further collaboration with Cal/OSHA was encouraged.
