Improvements to the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station Safety Program.

In recent years, the University of Wisconsin Madison Agricultural Research Station (ARS) has made a concerted effort to improve its safety program.  ARS has invested additional resources to address deficiencies in key areas and provide more in-depth training to ARS employees.  Particular areas of concern addressed by the ARS safety program include hazard communication, respiratory protection, hearing protection, confined space, and the EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS).  To address these issues, ARS hired a safety coordinator, undertook employee and station assessments, provided more training, and invested in additional safety equipment.  A key component in the safety program is an employee job hazard assessment which identifies specific risks and personal protective equipment needed to safely carry out the employee’s tasks.  These assessments have been used to determine each station needs for safety equipment, health assessments, and employee training in order to comply with state and federal laws related to occupational health and safety.  These efforts have lead to a more comprehensive safety program at each of the 11 research stations.