| About Us | |
| Mission Statement | |
| Promote "safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention". | |
| Organization | |
| Annual Performance Measures Who We Are: Oregon's Pesticide Poisoning Prevention program is part of a nationwide effort through the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to promote "safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention". Oregon receives funding for pesticide poisoning surveillance through a Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk SENSOR) cooperative agreement. Oregon and other states, including Arizona, California, Florida, New Mexico, New York, Texas and Washington State, also share data with NIOSH and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify problems that might not be detected at the state level. Who is at Risk: Agricultural workers and others who have more frequent, direct contact with pesticides are at highest risk of pesticide poisoning. Read the May 11, 1999 CD Summary article: Health Issues Among Migrant/Seasonal Farm Workers (pdf). People may also be exposed to pesticides used in or around the home or in public areas. Read more about exposure to pesticides in the May 12, 1998 CD Summary article: Toxic Pesticide Exposures (pdf). What We Can Do: Investigate: Our staff investigates reports of acute illness or injury related to recent pesticide exposures. We may give advice on decontamination and how to prevent future exposure to the affected person. All personal information is confidential, so we will not contact an employer or release a name to another agency without permission from the individual. Consult with Health Care Providers: Few doctors or other health care providers are familiar with all of the possible health effects of the wide range of pesticides used in Oregon. We have access to a medical toxicologist and other experts to provide prompt information about diagnostic testing and treatment. Identify and Pursue Prevention Opportunities: We collect information about suspected pesticide poisonings in order to identify patterns or trends of problems with a specific pesticide or work practice. When one is found, we work with Pesticide Analytical and Response Center (PARC), who coordinates the investigation of all incidents with other state agencies and organizations. How to Report: For emergency help, call a health care provide or contact Oregon Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 To report a pesticide exposure in Oregon, call Oregon State Public Health, Pesticide Poisoning Prevention Program at (503) 731-4025 | |
