Medical Clearance & Respirator Fit Testing
at theStrawberry Pre-plant Meeting
When: June 20th. Meeting and dinner begins at 6 pm, fit testing throughout the afternoon, schedule for appointment (see below)
Where: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, 455 Research Dr.Mills River, NC
Effective 12/1/2010, EPA will require that at least two individuals per farm using fumigants for strawberries have medical clearance and be fit tested to use a respirator. Thanks to a grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund, medical clearance, respirator fit testing, and full face respirators with cartridges will be available at this Strawberry Pre-Plant Meeting. NC residents will receive services and full face respirators/cartridges at a cost that is 50% or less of retail price (medical clearance $12.50-$17.50; respirator and cartridges $90-$200, depending on the specific respirator and cartridges). Non-NC residents will pay full price ($75-$85) for the required medical clearance and be able to purchase respirators and cartridges at 10-40% off the retail price.
Growers of crops other than strawberries who fumigate their crops may also receive these services at this meeting.
In order to receive services, here’s what you need to do:
Prior to the meeting
Pre-register as soon as possible by contacting: Robin Tutor at 919.880.4225, r Barb Gallagher at 910.567.7159, .
Sign up for a time to complete blood pressure, lung function test, and respirator fit testing. (This testing will take approximately ½ hour.)
Complete a medical history questionnaire (details on accessing questionnaire will be given at time of pre-registration.)Electronically completed questionnaires must be completed by June 15. Paper questionnaires may be brought with you to your appointment.
Receive preliminary medical clearance based on physician review of your questionnaire.
AT THE MEETING
Come to the respirator area at the time you signed up for.
Complete blood pressure, lung function, and respirator fit testing.
Pay for your medical clearance, respirator, and cartridges as applicable. (Payment in cash or check made payable to EastCarolinaUniversity.)
If you already have a full-face respirator that you plan to use, bring it with you to the meeting for fit testing.(If you have not previously been fit tested with your respirator, this fit testing may or may not be successful and another respirator may be needed.)
Unable to make it to this meeting? Call or email Robin Tutor at 919.880.4225, or Barb Gallagher at 910.567.7159, for other upcoming events and/or to arrange an appointment or group visit (available in NC).