Drift Mitigation in Fresno County

Safely preventing drift of chemical applications is not just about checking regulatory boxes. This according to Fresno County Ag Commissioner Melissa Cregan. She says it’s important that farm owners demonstrate a strong commitment to safety and build a strong safety culture. Cregan discussed drift mitigation with California Ag Today’s Patrick Cavenaugh.

Cregan… “Growers needs to communicate to their employees that they're not going to get in trouble for stopping an application when they see something unsafe. It seems so common sense. You've really got to let them know that not only will they not get in trouble, but you encourage them to look around, be safe, and when you see something that could cause a problem, stop and give them a call or call the foreman or whoever. But don't just continue that application because, and I can say almost probably 99% of the drift cases when we look at them, are just completely preventable. If that employee had, had, you know, made a better decision. And that's really what it comes down to. We all make bad decisions on occasion. Look around, look for cars, look for working crews, and not just at the beginning of the application, but you know, throughout the day, because conditions change.”

Cregan says the most frequent drift issues are onto workers. These incidents could be prevented with better communication, awareness of surroundings, and the comfort level in speaking up when something seems unsafe.