NEW PATHS will feature new worker populations, research avenues, and innovative approaches for the prevention of disease and injury in agriculture. The 2008 conference is designed for academic and governmental researchers, students, educators, safety professionals, and agricultural industry and community leaders. The welcoming and broad-based appeal of past conferences has made this a successful gathering for learning and developing new collaborations.

Research to Practice was the fourth conference co-sponsored by the Western Center and PNASH. Approximately 110 participants focused on current efforts to translate research into practical interventions to decrease the health and safety hazards of agricultural workers. The keynote speaker was George Conway, M.D., M.P.H., Director of NIOSH’s Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing program. Speaker presentations addressed research in the areas of agrochemicals, air quality, and engineering solutions, and themes such as collaboration, r2p models and approaches, understanding regulatory processes and current issues, and community-based research. Cooperation between multiple stakeholders and resources is critical to facilitating the transfer of research findings into practice for the benefit of the community. Selected conference presentations are being published in the Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health (link to journal).

PNASH, the Western Center, the Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, and NIOSH/CDC sponsored the 2004 Agricultural Health and Safety Conference. More than 110 conference participants from a broad range of disciplines heard 20 speakers address how occupational health and safety can be integrated into sustainable agriculture practices and how research and outreach can contribute to that effort. It was the first major event in the nation to focus on these goals. (Conference proceedings)

Co-sponsored by the Washington State University Pesticide Education Program, UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and Northwest Center for Occupational Safety & Health, the 7th annual conference focused on the new Washington state pesticide monitoring regulations. Plenary sessions reviewed issues of pesticide toxicity and exposure. During concurrent breakout sessions, growers/managers, applicators/handlers, and medical providers were given information and materials on how best to comply. A featured address by Michael Alavanja, Senior Investigator, National Cancer Institute, reported on recent links found between pesticides and cancer. (Conference proceedings)

The second western regional conference developed jointly by PNASH and the UC Davis Center for Western Agricultural Health and Safety drew 120 participants, mostly researchers from the western US. Oral presentations addressed respiratory diseases; farm family/worker, minority, and life-cycle health issues; injuries and ergonomics; policy and regulation; and improving health and safety through enforcement, engineering, and education. In addition, researchers and graduate students showcased their research with posters.

PNASH jointly sponsored this short course with Washington State University Cooperative Extension and the UW Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH ERC). The one-day conference was a professional education course covering topics of cholinesterase monitoring, pesticide drift in Washington state, and pesticide exposure. The 108 attendees ranged widely in background with course credits given to pesticide applicators from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; physicians; nurses; industrial hygienists; and safety professionals.

This first western regional conference was developed in a joint effort between the PNASH and the UC Davis Center for Western Agricultural Health and Safety.  Each center cooperatively plans the annual conference and alternates years as host for the event. The 2002 conference's primary objectives were to:

1. Gather agricultural safety and health researchers from throughout the wProvide tools for improving research practices and building research capacity.
2. Identify and understand shared concerns about priority research areas.
3. Engage in planning and discussing collaborative projects between organizations.

Cultivating Collaborations' format included poster presentations, educational sessions, breakout discussion sessions, and panels devoted to forming project proposals in partnership with west coat research institutions.

Local and national experts presented on pesticide use, pesticide exposure, and pesticide health effects covering topics relevant for practicing clinicians and other professionals who interact with people with pesticide exposure.

A Forest Engineering Odyssey, held on December 10–12, 2001 in SeaTac, Washington. The 2001 Symposium was a gathering of both international and professional forest engineers with the purpose of sharing new programs and research.  The symposium focused on mountain logging and skyline harvesting practices, which draws participants from the Northwest US, Appalachian US, BC Canada, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and South America. The Worker Safety session was an addition to the traditional program, and attracted investigators from around the US who are currently conducting research in forest harvesting worker safety and health. The session introduced forest engineering professionals to a safety and health perspective aiming to inspire them to integrate worker safety objectives into their own research.