PORTLAND, ME – From June 23-26, Northeast Center staff hosted the annual International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health (ISASH) conference in Portland, Maine. The ISASH organization and conference bring together professionals from around the world in order to share ideas and advance the field of occupational safety and health in agriculture. Each year, member organizations trade off planning and hosting the conference, allowing attendees to learn about agriculture in new states and countries.
In the Northeast, we pride ourselves on having a diverse agricultural workforce, including not only farmers, but also commercial fishermen and loggers. This broad community made us a perfect fit for hosting this years’ conference centering on the theme “On Land and At Sea: Safety & Health for Farmers, Fishermen, and Loggers.”
More than 140 professionals kicked off this year’s conference with a boat tour and educational session about the Northeast commercial fishing fleet, followed by a traditional Maine lobster bake on Peak’s Island. Over the days that followed, scientific sessions covered a range of topics, including:
-Injury Surveillance
-Mental Health
-Healthcare Access
-Tick borne Diseases
-Equipment Safety
-Youth Education
-Technological Advances in Safety
…and more!
ISASH 2025 highlighted the commercial fishing industry and coastal communities. Organizations working with fishermen throughout the Northeast presented on improving the health and safety of the fishing community. Discussions included the importance of community health workers, building research networks, training fishermen as first responders, and engaging the fishing community in designing health and safety interventions. Northeast Center staff also presented on our work researching musculoskeletal disorders, sleep patterns, and mental health.
During the conference, two of Northeast Center’s staff received well-earned recognitions. Bilingual Agricultural Safety Specialist Anna Meyerhoff won an award for her research and poster titled “Thriving Under Pressure: Empowering immigrant dairy workers with culturally appropriate stress management tools” and Agricultural Safety Educator Sarah Welsh was elected Co-Chair of ISASH’s Family, Farmstead, and Leisure Time working group.
To learn more about ISASH, visit www.ISASH.org.
