150 SW 13th Avenue, Miami, FL  33135
Phone  (786) 264-1708;  Fax  (786) 264-1859
interfaith@sfiwj.org
Pesticides and Workers

    On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, SFIWJ staff, interns, and volunteers underwent
    the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute’s (FHSI) training in the
    evaluation of pesticide exposure of farmworkers. The FHSI holds
    comprehensive training for health care clinics, as well as volunteers who
    come into frequent contact with farmworkers. This training covers such
    topics as recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing pesticide
    poisoning. The Institute uses its Evaluation of Pesticide Exposure in
    Farmworkers as well as the EPA’s Recognition and Management of
    Pesticide Poisonings manuals to facilitate the training led by an EPA
    certified staff person from the Farmworker Association of Florida.

    One chronic problem that the training addressed is that of health care
    clinics not inquiring into patients' occupational histories. The FHSI provides
    occupational history forms to health care providers, but relies on
    volunteers to create and maintain relationships with these providers, as
    well as to ensure the usage of the forms. Because symptoms of pesticide
    poisoning are similar to those associated with the flu and other conditions,
    a patient’s occupational history plays an intrinsic role in early diagnosis
    and treatment of pesticide poisoning.

    The FHSI is currently working on a campaign to encourage healthcare
    officials to document and report cases of pesticide poisoning to the state.
    Only by documenting actual cases can there be any hope of reforming the
    laws pertaining to pesticide usage and exposure.
Think pesticide poisoning is not happening in Florida?