Utah State University Extension released new safety training resources on Wednesday, Sept. 2, aimed at reducing injury risks for students involved in Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) and veterinary professionals working in high-risk environments.
Training for Student Projects
The new resources for Supervised Agricultural Experiences, which allow high school students to apply classroom learning to real-world projects, include injury risk assessment tools. These tools are designed to help students assess risks within production-based projects involving entrepreneurship, placement, research and experimentation, or exploration.
According to Utah State University Extension, the primary purpose of these assessments is to foster and teach safety practices that students can implement within their current and future projects. The curriculum uses a framework based on Haddon's Matrix from 1980 to evaluate three different categories of risk factors during educator visits.
Veterinary Safety Initiatives
The extension also released a handbook focused on safety and health management planning for veterinary clinics. The material aims to educate clinic leaders on how to value and create a safety culture through evidence-based practices and the implementation of appropriate policies.
Utah State University Extension noted that veterinary personnel are more likely to experience a work-related injury than firefighters, construction workers, or policemen. The resource addresses concerns that staff safety is often not provided with the necessary time or resources to prevent unnecessary risks and exposures.
Addressing Industry Risks
The training materials emphasize the importance of instilling healthy safety habits at a young age. Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries in the nation, and educators have the opportunity to assess student efforts to implement safety procedures during regular SAE visits.
