Wellness summer: 3 ways you can make this summer your healthiest yet

Stacy Laney
Health & Wellness Program

Summer is the perfect time to embrace healthy habits and nourish our well-being. In this blog, we'll explore three strategies to help you create a summer filled with vitality, wellness, and support for local agriculture. Let's dive in and discover how you can make this summer your healthiest yet!  

Joining a CSA can infuse your meals with fresh foods.

1. Embrace freshness: Participate in a local CSA

One of the most delightful ways to enrich your summer with nutritious goodness is by joining a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. A CSA will not only bring a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables to your table but also fosters a strong connection with local farmers and supports local agriculture. By participating in a CSA, you get to enjoy an assortment of seasonal produce, from vibrant greens to juicy fruits, all straight from the farm to your plate.

Not sure how get in touch with a local farm? Check out this handy tool from Eat Local First to find a CSA near you. When you do, you’ll find joining a CSA is an easy way to embrace the delicious and nutritious abundance of our region while nurturing a sense of community and contributing to your own wellness this summer!

2. Nourish with care: Offer healthy snacks for meetings

At WSDA, we recognize the importance of promoting health and wellness not just in our personal lives but also in the workplace. When you host a meeting, you have an opportunity to create a positive impact by providing nourishing snacks. That’s why WSDA aligns with Washington State Department of Health’s Healthy Nutrition Guidelines for Meetings and Events. Ensuring we share healthy food at meetings and events isn’t just an agency priority, something of importance throughout the state. In fact, in 2013 Governor Inslee signed an executive order to improve access to healthy foods in state facilities. For more information, review our agency’s policy on providing healthy food at WSDA meetings and events or access the agency form for offering meals or refreshments at meetings.

Encouraging healthier snack choices during meetings not only supports physical well-being but also enhances productivity and engagement. Fresh fruits, wholesome granola bars, mixed nuts, or veggie platters are excellent choices that keep energy levels up without compromising on taste. As we savor these nutritious treats together, we foster a culture of wellness and reinforce our commitment to a healthy work environment. 

3. Elevate your well-being: Participate in Vibrant Soulful Training

As part of our dedication to employee wellness, WSDA is proud to offer access to Vibrant Soulful training resources, thoughtfully curated by Annie Barrett. These resources are designed to empower you on your wellness journey, encompassing both mind and body. You can easily find these valuable materials on the WSDA intranet or join the Vibrant Soulful Teams channel, including regular meetings dedicated to mindfulness, movement, and well-being. 

Make this your wellness summer

Seize this opportunity to embrace wellness and make this summer our healthiest and happiest yet! By participating in a local CSA, providing healthy snacks during meetings, and tapping into the valuable resources of the WSDA Vibrant Soulful training, we take active steps towards nourishing ourselves, supporting our community, and fostering a culture of well-being within WSDA.

In summary: Summer is the perfect time to embrace healthy habits and nourish our well-being. Try these three strategies to create a summer filled with vitality and wellness, while also supporting local agriculture.

A fruitful collaboration with Israel: Paving the way for Washington state cherry exports

Visitors from Israel learn about Washington cherries.

Daniel Schafer
Communications

On July 10, 11, and 12, WSDA had the honor of hosting a distinguished delegation from Israel's Plant Protection Inspection Service (PPIS), USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and a representative from the Northwest Horticultural Council. This three-day visit signifies a leap forward in the pursuit of potential cherry fruit shipments from Washington state to Israel. While we acknowledge that there is still much to be done, we're excited to pursue the possibility of this new partnership.

Throughout the delegation's visit, the Fruit & Vegetable Inspection Program had the opportunity to showcase our stringent phytosanitary practices and procedures, fumigation protocols, innovative systems approach, impeccable trackability mechanisms, and container markings. The delegation was composed of three PPIS representatives from Israel, the Director of the Foreign Trade Administration from Israel, USDA APHIS representatives from Maryland, and a dedicated representative from the Northwest Horticultural Council.

One of the critical factors that contributed to the success of this visit was the invaluable expertise and knowledge shared by Enrique Rodriguez and Ricardo Cisneros, our esteemed WSDA F&V Export Supervisor Specialists. Their commitment to the cherry export program and exceptional insights significantly aided the delegation's understanding of our processes and operations.

A partnership with tremendous promise

Our collaboration with Israel's PPIS, USDA's APHIS, and the Northwest Horticultural Council marks a crucial milestone. By fostering strong international partnerships, we can create avenues for trade that benefit not only our respective agricultural industries but also strengthen the bonds between our countries.

In the near future, we envision cherries from Washington state gracing the shelves of markets in Israel, offering a taste of our region's bountiful harvest. The potential economic impact of this market opening cannot be understated, as it provides Washington state growers with access to a new consumer base while boosting the local and regional economy.

As we continue this journey, we are reminded of the core values that underpin our endeavors: dedication, innovation, and collaboration. Our team is committed to working closely with our international partners, sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices, to ensure the safe and efficient export of cherries to Israel.

The prospects of this partnership are undeniably exciting, and we look forward to exploring further opportunities and strengthening the ties between our regions. If you find this endeavor as compelling as we do, please contact Robert Newell, acting program manager for the F&V Inspection Program, to arrange a Teams. Together, we can celebrate the fruitful collaboration that is paving the way for a new chapter in the agricultural history of Washington state.

In summary: In July 2023 WSDA hosted a delegation from Israel's Plant Protection Inspection Service, along with others. The visit could lay the groundwork for future exports of Washington cherries to Israel.

Breathe easy: 3 tips to help you stay safe when air quality is low during wildfire season

Daniel Schafer
Communications

If you’ve lived in Washington for the past few years, you know that even if you’re far from a wildfire, their effect on air quality can be significant. As we head into the summer, remember that safety is a responsibility we all share. When it comes to air quality, everyone has a role to play. In this blog, we’ll provide tips and resources that can help us all do our part this year.

Participate in Wildfire Smoke Training

Photo by Landon Parenteu.

In the past, this training was primarily sent only to those who have the potential to be in the field and impacted by wildfire smoke. As climate changes and wildfires increase, so do negative effects on our air quality. In the spirit of emergency preparedness and out of concern for all staff, the Emergency Preparedness Program has started a preventative wildfire smoke education for everyone in the agency. Though you may not work or supervise team members with the potential to work in areas affected by wildfire smoke, such as field workers and trappers, it's also important to keep air quality in mind while working from a home office or traveling throughout the state. That’s because we all could be impacted by poor air quality due to wildfire smoke. So let’s be prepared, through education and awareness, in our daily lives. 

For many employees, it will be the first time you have seen this training, which is self-paced and provided by the Learning Center (TLC). If you have staff members that work in the field and don’t have access to a computer with internet access during the work day, contact  emergencyprepared@agr.wa.gov for guidance and to arrange in-person training.

Stay informed 

Part of staying safe when air quality is poor due to wildfire smoke is to be informed on the conditions you’re facing. Here are two resources that can equip you with the information you need to stay safe during wildfire season: 

Hazard Alerts: Visit the WSDA intranet homepage for Hazard Alerts prepared by Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Brenda Davis. Information from these alerts are provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Air Quality Forecast System (NAQFS), and Project Outdoor Air Quality. These alerts are designed to give each of us enough advance notice on poor air quality to take action that will prevent or limit exposure and any harmful health effects.

U.S. Air Quality Index: Air quality hazard alerts from NOAA and NAQFS are a critical tool, but can sometimes lack the specificity we need to understand the current state of air quality. For more detailed information about air quality in a particular location, access the U.S. Air Quality Index at AirNow.gov. By entering your zip code, you can see the state of air quality in your exact location as well as a three-day air quality forecast.

 

Use the most effective PPE: Your good judgement

You know yourself better than anyone else. On top of resources like Hazard Alerts and AirNow, use your own judgment. If air quality conditions seem unsafe, contact your supervisor. WSDA supports employee safety and employees are encouraged to speak up when they feel unsafe.

To learn more about how to stay safe when air quality is low, as well as your rights to a safe work environment as an employee, see L&I’s guide on “Protecting Workers from Wildfire Smoke Exposure.”

While it’s up to each of us to look out for our own wellbeing, program managers and supervisors are required to monitor air quality for employees. They do this by regularly monitoring air quality in the areas where team members are working and taking steps to limit or prevent exposure. These checks are to be done prior to each shift and periodically throughout the scheduled day. Monitoring helps both managers and team members stay safe from the impacts of poor air quality. 

When air quality is low, program managers and supervisors should follow PPE guidelines and ensure their team members have access to the tools they need to carry them out. According to the Exposure Controls section of WAC 296-62-08570, employers, if feasible, must use engineering controls to reduce employee PM2.5 exposure to less than 20.5µg/m3 (WAQA 101, AQI 69). Use the table below to understand what this means for you.

Air-quality decision matrix

 

Table notes

1. Visit the AirNow website or “EPA AIRNow” mobile app (available for download on WSDA issued cellular phones) and compare the value at your location with the AQI action level.
2. Respiratory Protection (RP) includes:
1. N-95 filtering facepiece (provided and encouraged; used on a voluntary basis)
2. N-95 filtering facepiece (provided and highly recommended; used on a voluntary basis)
3. Enrolled in Respirator Protection Program (RPP) (medically cleared & fit-tested)
4. Full-facepiece APR with HEPA filters; Loose-fitting or full-facepiece powered air-purifying respirators; or other respirators that are at least as effective
3. Exposure Controls (EC) Examples:
1. Locating work in enclosed structures or vehicles where the air is adequately filtered
2. Changing procedures such as moving workers to a location below the action level
3. Reducing work time in locations with unfiltered air
4. Changing work schedules to a time with a lower AQI
5. Increasing rest time and frequency, and providing rest locations with filtered air
6. Reducing the physical intensity of the work, lower breathing and heart rates

Critical work includes critical compliance, elevator, electrical and boiler inspections

Imminent hazards are life-threatening or unique situations requiring Designated Safety and Health Coordinator and ISH approval.

Safety is our priority

Staying informed, trusting your judgement, and participating in required training are key steps to ensuring your safety during Washington’s wildfire season. By utilizing resources such as Hazard Alerts, the U.S. Air Quality Index, and safety training from WSDA Emergency Preparedness, you can stay updated on air quality conditions and take a proactive approach to safety.

Remember that your well-being is what comes first, so trust your instincts and communicate regularly with your supervisor and your team to make sure we all stay safe this summer.

In summary: As wildfires become more frequent, their impact on air quality becomes more significant, affecting everyone. For this reason, all agency staff will be required to participate in Wildfire Smoke Training. This blog also provides tips on staying informed about air quality conditions, providing resources like Hazard Alerts and the U.S. Air Quality Index, to ensure everyone's safety during wildfire season.

Enhancing driver safety: Washington State Department of Agriculture's initiative to protect seasonal employees

Daniel Schafer
Communications

Every year, our agency employs dedicated seasonal workers responsible for trapping invasive pests. These trappers diligently scour every corner of the state to identify invasive species that pose a threat to Washington's agricultural health. Their work regularly takes them to remote, seldom-traveled, and often-narrow roads.

Challenges faced by field staff

Trappers face numerous challenges while performing their duties. Driving across their assigned regions, they make regular stops to set, inspect, and eventually remove traps. The nature of their work requires them to repeatedly park and leave their vehicles to perform tasks before moving on to the next site. Unfortunately, the roads they traverse are not only narrow but sometimes rough and overgrown. Such difficult conditions require frequent tricky turnarounds and maneuvers, resulting in between three and six slow-speed collisions reported by WSDA's seasonal employees each year. In fact, 28% of all auto accidents involving WSDA employees occur while backing into or driving over stationary objects such as mailboxes and utility poles.

Addressing safety concerns

Instructors offered WSDA employees hands-on training.

Recognizing the pressing need to enhance the safety of seasonal employees, Jason Gambill, WSDA's senior safety officer, is spearheading a mission to reduce accidents. In 2022, the first phase of Gambill's plan was implemented, equipping many of the agency's vehicles with backup cameras. As many collisions involve backing into stationary objects, these cameras have proven to be valuable tools for drivers.

Driver safety training 

Continuing the endeavor to prioritize safety, on June 6, 2023, all 30 seasonal employees responsible for trapping the invasive spongy moth participated in a comprehensive two-hour driver safety training session held at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. The training was conducted by Olympic Driving School, with three experienced instructors, including the company's owner and lead instructor, Scott Jansen. The program included group discussions on safe driving practices and hands-on instruction to equip WSDA employees with effective strategies for staying safe on the job. While this training session catered to the seasonal employees working in western Washington in 2023, subsequent training sessions will be held in 2024 and will include seasonal employees tasked with trapping apple maggots in eastern Washington as well. 

The vision for safety

By offering hands-on driver's safety training to seasonal employees, Jason Gambill and WSDA's safety team aim to eliminate slow-speed collisions entirely. Gambill emphasizes the significance of this training, saying, "With these newly acquired skills, our seasonal employees will have the ability to protect themselves, the public, and private property across the state."

In summary: Seasonal employees who will be working as spongy moth trappers this year participated in a driving safety training on June 6, 2023. This training is part of an effort by WSDA to decrease the number of on-the-job motor vehicle accidents. In 2024, the training will be provided for spongy moth trappers who work in western Washington as well as apple maggot trappers who work in eastern Washington.

Recent Policy Updates

WSDA recently updated several policies. Read below about the recent updates. 

Ethics – Policy POL-HR-212 Meeting Ethical Standards has been reorganized by subject matter for easier reference. Human Resources has scheduled open houses on July 20 and July 26 to discuss the policy in depth.

·       Email Records – All employees must manage their email to preserve public records and follow retention schedules. Policy POL-AM-121 Managing Email describes which types of emails to retain and who is authorized to search employees’ emails. For instructions on applying retention labels in M365, see Email Record Management Guidance and the Public Records Disclosure intranet site.

·       Commute Trip Reduction – WSDA participates in a statewide program to reduce commuting in single-occupancy vehicles. Policy POL-FS-407 Reducing Commute Trips provides information about public transit options and emergency rides homes for employees who use alternative commuting methods.

·       Media Contacts – To ensure consistent messaging, it is essential to consult the Communications Office before providing information to the media. Policy POL-AM-102 Responding to and Contacting the Media outlines responsibilities of the public information officer and program spokespeople. The Communications Office offers media training to anyone who will interact with the media.

In In summary: WSDA updated several policies, including ethics, email records, commute trip reduction, and media contacts. 

In

It pays to keep your health and safety in mind

Amber Betts
WSDA Communications

If you have prioritized your health and the health of those you work with by staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccination, it’s about to pay off in more ways than one.

As you know, Governor Inslee signed the 2023-25 operating budget earlier this month. Part of this budget included a $1,000 incentive bonus for employees who verify that they are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination.

To receive this incentive, employees must verify their vaccination status with HR. In order to be eligible for the incentive payment, you will need to show that you are up to date on your vaccination according to the current CDC guidance.

It’s not too late, you have until December 31, 2023 to get your verification in and receive that incentive payment.

Easier than ever

Human Resources and IT developed a secure process for employees to scan and submit their vaccine information to HR. Refer to the COVID Vaccine Documentation Scanning and Upload Instructions for more information.

When you have securely scanned your vaccine documentation, it can be electronically submitted to HR for review and processing with this secure form: COVID Booster Verification Form.

If you need help scanning your documents or completing the form, contact Lori Singleton in Human Resources at lsingleton@agr.wa.gov or 360-480-8040.

In summary: You can verify your COVID-19 vaccination status with HR and  be eligible for the $1,000 incentive payment. 

Wildfire smoke season; stay informed, be prepared

Spring in the Pacific Northwest is slowly settling into hot, dry summer days which increase the risk of wildfires that cause destruction and choking smoke in the air. 

Fires already raging through Alberta Canada, where over 1.2 million acres have already burned, is a stark reminder that wildfire season is approaching, this is 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. A cautionary reminder to get prepared now for Washington’s wildfire season. 

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 and on May 10, 2023, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed proposed draft language for permanent wildfire smoke rules to protect the health of workers who are exposed to wildfire smoke while on the job. 

The agency has indicated that they would again adopt the rules on an emergency basis if permanent rules were 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 clarification about when staff is most at risk and specific steps we as an employer need to take. They exempt worksites from 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, the emergency preparedness program has activated a Hazard Alert box on the Inside Agriculture home page, where employees can access current air quality alerts received from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Washington State Department of Ecology

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 will be receiving an email from The Learning Center (TLC) and guided to view L&I’s wildfire smoke training video.  

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.