Safe in the field: a project for training and integration of foreign agricultural workers

Abstract The project "Safe in the Field", funded by the Lazio Region and activated by Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy and "Innovation & Resources" Ltd, was launched September 15, 2014 and ended March 14, 2015. The first phase of the project was a research regarding the training needs for workers in the farms of Lazio Region. Subsequently training courses were provided, each lasting 10 hours, per groups of workers from different nations (Italy, India, Romania), with the presence of native tutors in the classroom and the availability of educational materials in language. One of the aims of the research is to understand the relationship between risk perception among farmers and the main risk factors to which they are exposed. Furthermore to investigate the influence of the training in risk perception in agriculture. The research regarding the training needs for workers was done by means of a study on distribution of different crops in the region, a study on injuries and occupational diseases in agriculture (Lazio) and a questionnaire submitted to a sample of farms. As it regards the research on risk perception, the data collection was made possible thanks to the use of a questionnaire designed to investigate the perception of risk that was given to a sample of 99 agricultural workers at the beginning and at the end of the courses. The results of the project consist in training of agricultural workers. A product of the project was the site http://ergolab.wix.com/sicurincampo. A previous research from the same Authors showed that the perception of risk is related to having attended training courses, but those who report having attended safety courses do not always enact safe behavior. While we cannot draw conclusions about the behavior of workers after attending the course, the analysis of the questionnaires shows a clear improvement in the perception of risk.