Seven win prizes in latest QUICK Award drawing

 Kathy Davis, Communications

Kaile Adney

Seven WSDA employees became eligible to select a prize because their names were randomly selected from the full list of those receiving a QUICK Award during the second quarter of 2022. 

Agencywide that quarter, employees handed out 96 awards to their coworkers, with 46 awarded in Western Washington and 50 in Eastern Washington.

WSDA employees present QUICK Awards to their peers who are demonstrating good work and service to others – either inside or outside the agency. Below are the prize recipients from the most recent drawing.

Kaile Adney – Pesticide Licensing and Recertification, Olympia

Jerrid Higgins

Kaile remained cool as a cucumber when helping to proctor a pesticide license testing session that the venue had double booked. When she showed up to the location and realized the room had another event going on, she stayed calm and focused, and was instrumental in finding a solution. Kaile quickly found out that there was another room available. She started the check-in/COVID screening process with testers while the venue set up the new room, which allowed us to start the session on time. Thanks Kaile for the role you played in managing a stressful situation and providing great service to our testers! -  Lindsey House 

Linda Brown –Fruit and Vegetable Inspection, East Wenatchee
Exceptional leadership during the first quarter of the 2022 calendar year. Linda led all inspectors within the Wenatchee office with 1679 Quality Control samples

Teresa Justice

for the period of Jan. 1 through March 31. - David Rosamond

Jerrid Higgins – Produce Safety Program, Wenatchee
Jerrid recently moved into a leadership role as inspection supervisor in the Produce Safety Program. I appreciate how he has stepped up to the challenge as we’ve work to rebuild our inspection team these last few months, and how he’s based inspection team assignments, mentoring, and feedback on both requirements from our funder and our individual team members’ strengths and developmental needs. – Connie Fisk

Teresa Justice – Financial Services/Payroll, Olympia
Teresa is so friendly and helpful. She is always willing to go the extra mile to help me with all things payroll. No matter how much explanation I may require, she is so patient with me. - Kim Urquhart

Lara Massey

Lara Massey – Plant Protection, Plant Services, Olympia
In recognition of excellent contracts management and improving the A/R system. - Cindy Cooper

Scott Nielson - Pesticide Compliance Program, Spokane
Scott helped on-board a new employee in the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. FS&CS needed this help because of a sudden illness on the team. Thank You Scott!! Excellent teamwork!! – Steve Fuller

Robert Sausedo – Pesticide Compliance Program, Yakima
Robert participate in an in-person open house for the Japanese Beetle eradication project held in Grandview. I received unsolicited compliments regarding Robert’s participation during
the meeting. They mentioned that Robert was very helpful and took a leading role in addressing several citizens’ concerns about the eradication product, which helped make the open house a success for the Pest Program. – R. Scott Nielson   

Scott Nielson

Congratulations to all WSDA employees, listed below, who were recognized with a QUICK Award from a colleague between March 31 and June 30, 2022. 

Eastern Washington 

Segun Akinbade, Abraham Armstrong, Julieta Barboza, Jeffrey Brummel, Brenda Buckmiller, Megan Bush, Yakziry Carbajal, Paul Cote, David Ehro, Julio Galvan, Azucena Guzman, Dane Henze, Jasmine Hernandez, Ryan Hevly, Taurine Hurtado, Mark Jolley, Sherry Lagerstam, Don Lemons, Manny Leon, Mark MacLean,Maria Marin, Benita Matheson, William McAllister, Paula Moore, Edgar Morgensen, Noel Munoz, Emily Oberhoffer, Joyce Orozco, Aaron Paul, Sean Porter, Enrique Rodriguez, Dave Rosamond, Andrea Rudolph, Miguel Sanchez, Kevin Sauve, Olivier Silva, Joshua Smith, Levi Strauss, Teri Tamboer, Kyle Thomas, Rebecca Weber 

Robert Sausedo

Western Washington

Susie Allen, Caroline Alper, Cyndi Baumgardner, Anna Berrey, Sidney Black, Ashley Blowers, Harold Boggs, Scott Brooks, Heather Burkett, Tristan Carrette-Meyers, Jenn Cheek, Cindy Cooper, Amanda Davis, Brenda Davis, Robert Flores, Tobin Gilbert, Nick Johnson, Jennifer Lacey, Keren LaCourse, Michelle Layton, Dana McKeon, Katie Noland, Kay Oakley, Haley Palec, Jacob Peterson, Vinaca Phipotts, John Price, Lisa Rouse, Will Satak, Robin Schaffer, Carol Schmidt, James Scovel, Rene Simon, Becca Sotelo, Cheryl Spink, Ed Thompson, Stormy Townsend, Beckie Weatherford, Sue Welch 

September 30 next drawing deadline

When you catch one of your coworkers doing something special for staff or customers, why not let them know with a QUICK Award? You can find the award form on the intranet. The QUICK awards intranet page has been updated to send a copy of the award to the recipient if their email address is provided.

Forms are also available from your division coordinator or agency receptionists.

In summary: Seven WSDA employees became eligible to select a prize because their names were randomly selected from the full list of those receiving a QUICK Award during the most recent quarterly drawing. See who they are and why they were recognized by their colleagues. Insider now also lists all employees who received QUICK Awards during the previous quarter. 

Eastside lab staff get ergonomic assessment and advice

 Robert Ambriz, Safety Program

Segun Akinbade at the microscope.

WSDA staff working in two laboratories in Eastern Washington received professional ergonomic assessments and advice recently. 

Deborah Read, president of ErgoFit Consulting, Inc., visited the agency labs to observe and analyze the staff’s work tasks, and offer corrective measures to protect worker safety and prevent workplace injuries. 

Deborah and I first visited the Plant Protection Division’s Nematology Laboratory located in Prosser. Deborah watched staff perform typical job tasks such as sample prep, tree planting, and soil bag lifting, as well as working at microscopes and in the office. 

She noted the amount of bending, repetitive motion, fatigue, and back and shoulder discomfort the lab workers experienced. Another key factors she looked for was the amount of hand strength needed to grab and hold, known as pinch force. 

Sample prep, for example, required 17 process steps, from labeling tubes and pouring soil to bending down to set samples on the floor. Six steps found employees using a pinch force of two pounds. 

Deborah offered a number of improvement recommendations, from short-term to long-term. Immediate corrections included adjusting seat and microscope heights and better positioning of keyboards, monitors and mice. 

Noel Munoz moving tree samples.

At the Chemical and Hop Laboratory in Yakima, composting workers receive as many as 75 samples every two weeks, and samples can weigh up to eight pounds. This job has 21 process steps, and many require repetitive pinching and motion. 

Among the quick fixes Deborah recommended was to reposition the blender closer to the sink to reduce carrying, and equip staff with jar-grip openers and googles. 

WSDA’s Enterprise Risk Management Services has contracted with ErgoFit to reduce injuries and enhance employees’ health, performance and productivity through ergonomic assessments and education services. They offer services tailored to laboratory, industrial and office settings, including home offices. 

The ErgoFit visits to our agency labs offered staff the opportunity to receive professional ergonomic guidance in a personal and interactive setting. 

In summary: WSDA staff working in two laboratories in Eastern Washington received professional ergonomic assessments and advice recently. Deborah Read, president of ErgoFit Consulting, Inc., visited the agency labs to observe and analyze the staff’s work tasks and offer corrective measures. WSDA’s Enterprise Risk Management Services has contracted with ErgoFit to reduce injuries and enhance employees’ health, performance and productivity through ergonomic assessment and education services.  

State agriculture supports healthy summer diet

 Kathy Davis, Communications

Ah summer! The warmer weather inspires happy activities and attitudes for many of us. 

As you enjoy the sun and fun, you can also maintain a commitment to staying healthy. And one important foundation of good health is a nutritious diet. 

Summer can present challenges to healthy eating, such as vacation traveling, more socializing, activities that disrupt routines, and hot temperatures that discourage home food prep. 

On the flip side, summer offers big advantages to supporting a healthy, nutritious diet. 

Specifically, we are blessed to live in Washington State, where the agriculture industry produces more than 300 commodities. This means we have an abundant array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and proteins to incorporate into our meal and snack plans. 

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, “A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check.”

These healthy food choices are at their peak in mid-summer. To learn what crops are in season now, check out the list on the Washington Grown website. Click on any month and see what’s in season at that time. For instance, July lists more than 40 types of produce available right here in Washington!

By the way, Washington Grown, which has been supported by grant funds from WSDA, has produced nine seasons of video episodes designed to educate in an entertaining format about specific crops (and other ag topics), the state farmers who produce them, and recipe ideas. 

Also at their peak this time of year are farmers markets. Nearly every community in Washington hosts a farmers market, where you can get farm-fresh produce and support local producers. You can find a market near you on the Washington State Farmers Market Association website. 

If you are looking for healthy summer eating tips, an internet search turns up lots of resources. For instance, a 2018 “Right as Rain” blog from University of Washington Medicine includes suggestions for meeting vacation eating challenges. 

Summer is an excellent time to enjoy fresh local produce while Washington-grown fruits and vegetables are at the peak of harvest, thanks to the tireless work of our state's agricultural workers at all level of food supply chains. Enjoy the fresh, delicious, local bounty!

In summary: As you enjoy summer sun and fun, you can also maintain a commitment to staying healthy. One important foundation of good health is a nutritious diet. We are blessed to live in Washington State, where we have an abundant array of healthy food choices to incorporate into our meal and snack plans. Fresh produce in particular is at their peak in mid-summer.

Be familiar with the dangers of heat exposure

 WSDA Safety Program

Weather is notoriously tricky to predict. However, a number of forecasting sources (from NOAA to the Farmers Almanac) expect another hot, dry summer for the Pacific Northwest. Eastern Washington, in particular, has a higher probability of warmer than normal temperatures. 

With many WSDA employees working outside and interacting with employers who oversee outdoor workers, remember to be alert to the hazards of high summer temperatures. 

Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious condition is heat stroke, but other illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided. 

Particularly in light of last year’s extreme “heat dome” event, the Department of Labor & Industries has adopted an emergency rule to protect workers exposed to high heat on the job. The emergency rule is in effect through Sept. 29, while L&I works to make permanent rules.

To meet the rule requirements, WSDA’s Safety Program is preparing agency program managers and supervisors with resources for employees. Supervisors are required to make water sources available, and ensure employees complete the Self-Paced Heat Illness Training.

You can prepare yourself by becoming familiar with symptoms to watch for and how to protect yourself and others from heat. (See lists below.)  

Symptoms of heat exhaustion:

• Headache, dizziness, or fainting.
• Weakness and wet skin.
• Irritability or confusion.
• Thirst, nausea, or vomiting.

Symptoms of heat stroke:

• May be confused, unable to think clearly, pass out, collapse, or have seizures.
• May stop sweating.

How you can protect yourself and others:

• Know the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses.
• Monitor yourself; use a buddy system.
• Block out direct sun and other heat sources.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Drink often and before you feel thirsty. Drink water every 15 minutes.
• Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothes.

For more information, see the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration heat illness prevention page. 

In summary: With many WSDA employees working outside and interacting with employers who oversee outdoor workers, remember to be alert to the hazards of high summer temperatures. Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. You can prepare yourself by becoming familiar with symptoms to watch for and how to protect yourself and others from heat. Learn more in this Insider blog post. 

Teams Telephony: a new way to make phone calls

Kathy Davis, Communications

The technology for telephoning has come a long way. 

Methods for staying connected have been evolving rapidly with technology advancements, and new ones keep emerging. 

Since WSDA introduced the Microsoft 365 Teams platform more than a year ago, we’re using it for video meetings, chat messaging, and even instant calls to other Teams users. 

Teams Telephony is another feature for making and receiving calls to any phone number, even outside the Teams environment. Currently, more than 100 WSDA employees are using Teams Telephony, with more signing up weekly.

Cost savings is a big benefit of switching. Teams Telephony costs $4.50 a month. Monthly costs for desk phone services provided by the state technology agency ranges from $17.83 (or more depending on add-on features) at the Natural Resources Building to $45 and up in some of our field offices.

In addition, with Teams Telephony you keep your existing desk number. Voicemail and domestic long-distance calls are included. A physical desk phone and the connecting cabling is eliminated, as well as charges for moving these. Users need not be connected to VPN, and it’s automatically integrated on agency iPhones with the Teams app. 

Furthermore, voicemail messages can be transcribed into multiple languages. However, transcription doesn’t always work perfectly for all messages. 

Agency users have also reported a few challenges with their Teams Telephony audio settings, but these issues are generally easy to address. Some users have also experienced spam calls. While these are annoying, they generally taper off after a while. 

To learn more details, visit the Teams Telephony intranet page. You can also contact Robin Meiser, telephony systems administrator with the WSDA Information Technology Office. 

In summary: Teams Telephony is another feature of Microsoft 365 used for making and receiving calls to any phone number, even outside the Teams environment. Currently, more than 100 WSDA employees are using Teams Telephony, with more signing up weekly. Cost savings is a big benefit of switching. Learn about other advantages and features in this Insider blog post.  

Reinvestment supports improved safety at WSDA

 Enterprise Risk Management Services

Former program manager, Cindy Cooper, center, 
leading a Plant Services log inspection. 

June is National Safety Month. It offers an opportunity to consider the importance of workplace safety, and spotlight how WSDA’s Enterprise Risk Management Services (ERMS) are working and investing to better protect agency employees.

During 2021 and thus far in 2022, ERMS has invested $205,000 in equipment and training aimed at improving safety and health. 

These funds were made available through the Department of Labor & Industries Retrospective Rating safety incentive program. Agencies earn partial refunds of workers’ compensation premiums by reducing workplace injuries and lowering associated claims costs. 

In other words, the more we reduce injuries and costs, the more we can invest in boosting that cycle of improvement. This blog post presents examples.

Ergonomics

In recent state Safety Surveys, WSDA employees cited ergonomics and sedentary work as the top safety hazards that most affect them. 

State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle testing for avian influenza.  

As a result, ERMS established a contract with Ergofit, a consulting company that provides education, webinar presentations, physical conditioning programs, and workplace ergonomic assessments. 

Ergofit has presented several training sessions for WSDA employees that have covered workstation adjustment, home-office ergonomics, loop-band core conditioning, and even best ergonomic practices while driving. Recordings of these sessions, as well as other videos and educational material are available on the Ergonomics page on the agency intranet. 

In addition, WSDA’s safety officers and Ergofit are available to conduct individual ergonomic assessments to identify potential work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which are a leading cause of injury and workers’ compensation claims. Three specialized ergonomics laboratory assessments have been completed for agency lab staff. 

Injury prevention and treatment

Other types of workplace risks that can lead to injury include vehicle collisions, slips, trips and falls, and hazards present in private facilities and outdoors. WSDA staff work in a wide range of conditions, from driving and field inspections, to water sampling and animal contact. 

Jadey Ryan collecting water samples for the Natural Resources
Assessment Section. 

The agency’s Safety Program and safety officers work daily to address the full range of risks, through consulting and support on specific worksite, job, and hazard concerns. 

For example, ERMS has provided back-up cameras and deer whistles for agency vehicles, ice cleats for safer winter walking, and neck-cooling gaiters, wide-brimmed hats and water bottles during hot weather. 

The office has also purchased thousands of N95 masks and other personal protective equipment to protect against COVID-19 infection and to meet specific program requests. 

If a medical emergency does occur, nearly 200 agency staff have been trained in CPR and First Aid since 2020, thanks to online training provided at no cost to their programs. 

Mental health, stress and de-escalation

Learning about the causes and responses to conflict and stress not only increases wellbeing, but also reduces distractions and fatigue that can lead to accidents on the job. 

ERMS has used Retro funds to invest in a series of employee trainings that cover mental health first aid, verbal de-escalation, helping those who are struggling, and mindfulness practice. 

About 400 agency employees have taken advantage of these virtual training sessions at no cost to their programs. 

To improve employee health and address stress, ERMS also promotes participation in the state’s SmartHealth voluntary incentive, diabetes prevention, and Employee Assistance Program resources. 

Smoke and air quality

WSDA continues to follow the wildfire smoke rules issued by L&I last year. Wildfire smoke is a major threat to human health. Breathing in smoke causes wheezing and coughing, heart and lung disease, and can even cause death.

Art Rodriguez lifting a bag of onions for 
the Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program.

ERMS promotes awareness and training on this issue and supervisors’ responsibilities to monitor air quality and take actions to limit workers’ exposure to harmful smoke. In addition, ERMS purchased 30 hand-held air quality monitors and 22 office air purifiers. 

And more……

Along with these actions and investments, ERMS has worked to make WSDA’s work facilities safer. For instance, working with the leadership team in the Yakima building, two permanent contracted security officers are now stationed at the building in shifts from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

And the ERMS team is committed to robust communication and education to the WSDA workforce to promote safety and wellness. They continued presenting the annual Safety Fair in conjunction with the Great Shakeout event in October, moving it to the Teams virtual platform during COVID-19. Last year, 135 agency employees participated in this day-long event. 

In summary: June is National Safety Month. It offers an opportunity to consider the importance of workplace safety, and spotlight how WSDA’s Enterprise Risk Management Services (ERMS) are working and investing to better protect agency employees. ERMS has invested $205,000 in equipment and training aimed at improving safety and health. The more we reduce injuries and costs, the more we can invest in boosting that cycle of improvement. This blog post presents examples.

Wildfire smoke season; stay informed, be prepared

 Brenda Davis, WSDA Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Department of Natural Resources photo

Spring in the Pacific Northwest has been cooler and wetter than average. We may all be impatient for hot, dry summery days. But those conditions increase the risk of wildfires that cause destruction and choking smoke in the air. 

Fires are already raging through southwestern states, particularly New Mexico with nearly a half-million acres ablaze – a cautionary reminder to get prepared now for Washington’s wildfire season. 

Wildfire smoke is a major threat to human health, and the biggest source of particle pollution in Washington. Breathing in smoke causes wheezing and coughing, heart and lung disease, and can even cause death. 

The state Department of Ecology predicts the number of acres burned by wildfires is increasing as climate change reduces winter snowpack, and produces hotter and drier summers. 

L&I rules

The health risks from wildfire smoke prompted the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) last year to file emergency rules spelling out responsibilities for employers, including state agencies like WSDA, to identify harmful smoke risks, notify employees, and eliminate or reduce workers’ exposure. 

The emergency rules expired in November, but L&I is in the process of making the rules permanent. The agency has indicated that they would again adopt the rules on an emergency basis, if permanent rules are not in place by the start of this year’s fire season.

WSDA will continue to follow the wildfire smoke rules to promote education and awareness of these health hazards to employees. 

These L&I rules, which apply specifically to people working outdoors, give clarify when staff is most at risk and specific steps we as an employer need to take. They exempt worksites within enclosed buildings and vehicles with windows and doors mostly kept closed (except for entry and exit) and air-filtration systems. 

The rules set the standard for dangerously poor air quality at 2.5 PM (particulate matter), which means suspended solid or liquid particles are at or below 2.5 micrometers in diameter. The fine particles at this level are the most concerning hazard, because they get deep into the lungs, worsening conditions like asthma, and affecting heart health.

Employer responsibilities 

WSDA managers and supervisors are responsible for monitoring air quality conditions in the areas where employees are working outdoors. They can check websites such as the EPA's AirNow website or state Department of Ecology's Air Monitoring Network and download mobile apps like "EPA AirNow" or "Air Quality WA." 

In addition, I will be emailing wildfire smoke alerts to staff in areas where air quality ranges from concerning to very unhealthy levels, as determined by the national Air Quality Forecast System. 

When workers are at risk of exposure to hazardous levels of wildfire smoke, employers must take actions to eliminate or reduce their exposure. These measures may include:

• Moving work to enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles where the air is adequately filtered.
• Moving employees to areas with lower smoke exposure.
• Reducing work intensity.
• Providing additional rest periods.

Providing employees with respirators, such as an N95 or a KN95 disposal mask, at no cost for voluntary use when levels of particulate matter are high.

As WSDA’s emergency preparedness coordinator, I have been working with my Safety Office colleagues and agency leaders to review job hazards and help programs obtain the supplies they need to keep workers safe from smoke exposure. Use of respirators for this purpose is voluntary, so no medical exam or fit test is required.

Although it’s not required, WSDA and L&I recommend taking action to reduce employee exposure to dangerous air at even lower levels of particulate matter, especially for workers with asthma or other lung conditions.

We also recommend training employees and supervisors about wildfire smoke. WSDA staff should view the 15-minute wildfire smoke training video on L&I’s website.  

In summary: The health risks from wildfire smoke prompted the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) last year to file emergency rules spelling out responsibilities for employers, including state agencies like WSDA, to identify harmful smoke risks, notify employees, and eliminate or reduce workers’ exposure. WSDA will continue to follow the wildfire smoke rules to promote education and awareness of these health hazards to employees. Read this Insider blog post for updates on agency responsibilities.