$9 million federal award to UNMC center to beef up ag safety and health

OMAHA — A $9 million national award to the University of Nebraska Medical Center will help beef up regional efforts ranging from safety training for bison workers to studying dust-induced lung injury.

The funds go to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) at UNMC’s College of Public Health.

Though headquartered in Omaha, the center’s outreach extends to Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota.

The awards will continue existing agricultural safety research and training and help launch new initiatives to improve the lives of ag workers. Awarded through a competitive process, the funds come from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

They are to strengthen outreach related to mental health, safe grain handling, tractor and equipment and animal handling.

According to a statement from UNMC, the award money also is to be used to investigate stress among immigrant farm workers, improve safety on feed yards, train tribal bison herd workers and look into lung injury brought on by organic dust.

UNMC CS-CASH is one of 11 regional centers to receive the federal funds announced this week, according to UNMC. Such centers and their experts work collaboratively on some events but specialize in the distinct industries of the region.

“The center can use these funds to continue to serve the agricultural community by discovering causes of injury and illnesses and communicating information about prevention in ways that reach as many farmers and agricultural workers as possible,” said Risto Rautiainen, director of the center.

The award is the third consecutive round of funding for such centers since 2011.