March 2011 - A recent article from the Dairy Herd Network (www.dairyherd.com) noted that the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) 'hasn't spent a lot of time in recent years inspecting farm operations for worker safety compliance, but that's about to change.' Although the article spurred from the annual meeting of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, all those in the agribusiness community need to be aware of current OSHA regulations. As an employer, your responsibilities include:

     1. To find an minimize workplace hazards to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.

     2. Be familiar with and comply with OSHA standards and regulations.

     3. Inform your workers of OSHA and their rights under OSHA.

     4. Give workers safe tools and apply appropriate protection.

     5. Train workers if standards require it.

     6. Establish, update and communicate operation procedures so workers are safe.

     7. Report to OSHA within 8 hours of an accident that is fatal or results in three workers in the hospital.

     8. Keep OSHA reporting logs.

     9. Post OSHA posters, citations and allow workers access to their employee medical and exposure records.

     10. Do not discriminate against workers who exercise their OSHA rights.

     11. Correct cited violations in prescribed period.

Visit www.osha.gov for additional information regarding OSHA regulations.

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March 2011 - The Lancaster County Agriculture Council is a group, which was formed in January of this year, working to deal with current and future issues affecting the county’s farmers and agribusinesses. The council board consists of 11 farmers and 11 representatives from the agribusiness community, each of whom will have a vote on matters brought before the board. In addition there are 11 nonvoting members. Interested in further information about the council - read this informational piece, printed by Lancaster Farming.

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March 14, 2011 (Source: MeatingPlace.com) - A new certification program for the poultry industry is the first in the nation to provide training on the proper techniques for handling and transporting poultry. The Poultry Handling and Transportation Quality Assurance Program (PHTQA) will offer single-day training sessions for poultry transportation and catch crews in methods of biosecurity, disease recognition, emergency planning, and the safe and humane handling of birds before, during, and after transport. The certification involves transportation and handling of several species including day old poultry, breeders, pullets, spent fowl, broilers and turkeys.

A team of scientists from Penn State University and USDA, as well as industry specialists, will conduct the training and certification for the program, which is similar to the Pork Transportation and Quality Assurance Program. Multiple training sessions will be held in 2011, although the dates have yet to be determined. Visit the PHTQA web site at www.poultryhandling.org for further details.