| 150 SW 13th Avenue, Miami, FL 33135 Phone (786) 264-1708; Fax (786) 264-1859 interfaith@sfiwj.org; www.sfiwj.org |
| FHSI Pesticide Training |
On Tuesday, June 30, 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.
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.