According to a report released by the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), there are close to 70,000 farms and ranches in the state. The agency also proclaims that California's agricultural output produces around $50 billion in cash receipts each year.
California's agricultural industry is supported by hundreds of thousands of farmworkers. Farm safety for these workers is an important topic as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as recently as 2019, there were 573 fatalities in the agricultural sector for the country. This figure makes farming one of the more dangerous occupations.
In addition to fatal accidents and serious injuries, farmers and agricultural workers can be at risk of exposure to a number of airborne hazards that could negatively impact their health. These include everything from mold, bacteria and viruses, to dusts - including combustible dusts, fumes, insecticides, fungicides, disinfectants and fertilizers to name just a few. Exposure to various hazardous gases can also be a risk. These could include elevated concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other gases.
“To raise awareness of the need to protect farmworkers, National Farm Safety and Health Week takes place on the third week of September,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing's Huntington Beach facility. “At LA Testing, we support the efforts of this annual observance and provide resources all year long to safeguard agricultural workers. Our California environmental and industrial hygiene laboratories offer testing services and sampling supplies for mold, bacteria, viruses, particulates, gases, combustible dusts, and a wide range of pesticides. LA Testing even provides air monitoring instruments and a complete line of personal protective equipment.”
LA Testing recently sponsored an educational video about National Farm Safety and Health Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Pwp9S-LuTqg
To learn more about this or other environmental and industrial hygiene services and supplies, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California's leading laboratory for indoor environmental quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.
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