USU's Respirator-Training Program Receives State and National Funding
Two Utah State University professors developed a respirator-training program that has received support from both state and national organizations. The program, created by assistant professor Michael Pate and associate professor Richard Beard, is a mobile training course designed to educate agricultural workers on respirator safety.
“The training will be open to anyone who works in agricultural settings,” Pate said. “Anybody who messes with chemicals, fumes or dust should consider respirator training and use.”
On Aug. 12, the Workers Compensation Fund presented Pate with a check for $2,000. Pate also received a $10,000 grant from the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America. Both organizations are dedicated to improving workplace safety and believe respirator training is necessary.
“This project has the potential to provide additional insight into an innovative, translation-education approach,” said Dan Hair, the chief risk officer for the Workers Compensation Fund. “Providing a helpful, direct training intervention to the agricultural community in northern Utah.”
Using a climate-controlled trailer, the two-part training includes online instruction and individual respirator fittings.
“Our goal is to visit worksites to do this training,” Pate said. “First employees will complete the training on the laptop; then they go to the next room in the trailer and get fit tested with respirators.”
Pate started the project in 2013 when a survey showed that Utah farmers and ranchers had questions about respirator use. Beard, an expert in pesticide safety education, was also interested in the topic.
“Dr. Beard has had several questions from pesticide applicators concerning what kind of equipment they need and how to take care of it,” Pate said. “So it became a joint effort.”
Pate is passionate about agricultural safety and plans to start conducting trainings in September.
“It has to do with quality of life,” Pate said. “I think all individuals deserve to work in a safe and healthy environment.”
Related links:
USU School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education
USU College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Contact: Michael Pate, 435-797-3508, michael.pate@usu.edu
Writer: Dawn Otterby
Department Head Bruce Miller (left) and professor Michael Pate (middle) accept a check from Dan Hair, chief risk officer of the Worker's Compensation Fund (right). The group stands in front of the mobile respirator training unit.
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