The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) is proud to support a project led by the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) through its Agricultural Community-Based Projects (AgCBP) program.

The project focused on improving how agricultural workers, particularly Spanish-speaking farmworkers, understand and use respirators to reduce pesticide exposure.

Proper respirator use is one of the most important protections available to reduce pesticide exposure in agricultural work.

Project Impact at a Glance:

• Engaged 11 Spanish-speaking farmworkers at 4 agricultural employers
• Conducted two rounds of interviews to identify knowledge gaps
• Distributed materials at 5 fit test clinics and 6 outreach events
• Performed respirator fit testing on 187 farmworkers (84 Spanish-speaking and 103 English-speaking workers)
• Introduced enhanced training protocols to improve engagement
• Delivered bilingual, culturally relevant materials and training
• Achieved high satisfaction and clarity ratings among participants

Rather than treating respirator fit testing as a compliance exercise, NYCAMH worked directly with farmworkers and employers to develop practical tools and training grounded in real-world experience.

Liane Hirabayashi, Center Manager at NYCAMH, said, “This project focused on meeting agricultural workers where they are and helping them understand how proper respirator use protects them from pesticide exposure in their daily work.”

“Through the AgCBP program, PERC supports community-based efforts that reduce pesticide exposure through practical tools, training, and real-world application,” said Emily Ripken, PERC’s Program Coordinator for Ag Community Non-Profits. “NYCAMH’s work demonstrates how practical, locally grounded approaches can improve safety across agricultural communities,” she added.

The project introduced hands-on learning, peer demonstration, and materials designed for immediate use in the field, ensuring that workers not only receive information, but apply it.

This work continues across agricultural communities, helping reduce pesticide exposure beyond the life of the project.

PERC is the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative, a 5-year cooperative agreement between the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs and University of California Davis Division of Continuing and Professional Education, in collaboration with Oregon State University. Suzanne Forsyth is the PERC Director at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. Kaci Buhl is the PERC Deputy Director at Oregon State University.

Questions? Email [email protected].

This article was originally published by PERC.