Occupational Safety & Health Funding

ACTION: Protect funding for the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program (AFF) within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the final 2013 federal budget.

You are making a difference! Legislators have heard the public outcry against the unfair targeting of farming, forestry and fishing safety for federal spending cuts. But we can’t stop now.

After our last round of “e-blasts,” it became clear that legislators heard the outrage from farmers, foresters, fishermen and the public that among all industries, only the three most dangerous were targeted for safety funding elimination. This has made it possible to prevent budget cuts up to this point. However, the budget is going through a long, brutal process, and cuts can still happen if we don’t keep up the pressure.

If you feel strongly that agricultural safety and health should be promoted whenever possible by voluntary collaboration, not by forced compliance with regulations, and that agriculture forestry and fishing (AFF) should get the same support enjoyed by every other industry, please take a moment to contact your legislator with this easy e-blast.

Right now, the 2013 budget is under review in the House of Representatives, and the specifics of the Health and Human Services Budget are being looked at in detail. If you live in districts with the following representatives, an e-blast or postal letter would be critically important:

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VITAL AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING SAFETY PROGRAM
TARGETED FOR TERMINATION

The 2013 Presidential budget has again targeted the NIOSH Agricultural, Forestry and Fishing (AFF) Program for termination. This decision would have dire consequences for the AFF industries for the following reasons:

• Farmers, foresters and fishermen are 6X more likely to die on the job than the average American worker
• A work-related injury or fatality can be both financially and emotionally devastating to business-owners, workers and their families
• The estimated cost of AFF fatalities, injuries and illnesses is roughly $17 billion annually
• The NIOSH AFF Program is the ONLY NON-REGULATORY program in the country working to provide AFF health and safety solutions
• NIOSH AFF Centers collaborate closely with the farming, fishing and forestry workers they serve. This is an example of industry and government working together successfully.

Thanks to dedicated efforts from the farm community last year, we were able to save this program. If you believe AFF workers deserve the same protections afforded other industry workers, please contact your Congressional representatives today and save this vital program in 2013!