# Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

> **NIH ALLCDC U54** · MARY IMOGENE BASSETT HOSPITAL · 2022 · $1,208,331

## Abstract

ABSTRACT: OVERALL CENTER
The primary objectives of the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry,
and Fishing (NEC) renewal will be to: 1) create an OSH environment in the Northeast that combines research,
services and promotion to mobilize partners and catalyze community change agents to improve health and
safety in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) industries, and 2) to monitor the impact of these efforts in
order to improve Center programs and to measure NEC success. Specific Aims include: #1- Developing
transdisciplinary solutions for several priority OSH AgFF issues. We will seek to tackle several key issues that
prior research, stakeholder input and literature reviews indicate are problematic for AgFF industries. These
issues include the development of Total Worker Health solutions for loggers, expansion of proven lifejackets
solutions for the fishing industry, improving mental health services for the farm community, addressing tick-
borne disease in the farming industry, developing culturally relevant OSH programs in all three industries and
conducting AgFF surveillance. #2- Create a foundation for disseminating proven OSH solutions to AgFF
operations. In addition to these targeted initiatives, the NEC will provide onsite or virtual worker trainings,
respiratory fit-testing, PPE, technical assistance, emerging issues assistance, train-the trainer opportunities,
safety demonstrations, grants and cost-sharing opportunities. #3- Widely promote AgFF OSH “wins” to
empower AgFF industries. NEC solutions and resources will be available to AgFF industry groups throughout
the Northeast and beyond. The NEC intends to focus on our dual role of being both a “service” and “research”
Center and will use AgFF testimonials, safety awards, success stories and social norms promotion to send a
positive AgFF OSH message. The NEC will also engage in a “Clear Communications Campaign,” which will
involve disseminating research beyond peer-reviewed publications in places and formats that are relatable and
relevant to AgFF populations. #4- Evaluate NEC AgFF activities. The Bassett Research Institute Center for
Evaluating Rural Interventions will use multiple evaluation methods to assess, as well as improve, the NEC’s
outputs and outcomes of each of its cores.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10554776
- **Project number:** 2U54OH007542-21
- **Recipient organization:** MARY IMOGENE BASSETT HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie Ann Sorensen
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,208,331
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10554776

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10554776, Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (2U54OH007542-21). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10554776. Licensed CC0.

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