National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs Jess McCluer has been named chair of the board of directors for the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA).
Founded in 2007, ASHCA is a not-for-profit organization established to proactively address ongoing and emerging occupational safety and health issues affecting U.S. agriculture. ASHCA’s Board of Directors elected McCluer as chair on March 12 to a two-year term.
“I’m humbled and honored to lead ASHCA in its mission to protect the safety of agricultural workers,” McCluer said. “Promoting safety and health in the workplace and encouraging nationwide commitment to employee protection has been a cornerstone of my professional career, including my service at NGFA. I hope to learn from the wide-ranging members of ASHCA about their strategies to promote worker safety, and will strive to continue the advancement of ASHCA’s vital mission effectively throughout my term.”
As board chair, among other duties, McCluer will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of ASHCA, oversee general operations of the organization, preside at all ASHCA Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings, and ensure the organization’s projects proceed as directed.
McCluer manages NGFA’s wide-ranging safety and operations programs covering employee safety and industrial health, in addition to environmental issues, grain-handling facility design and equipment, and grain inspection and weighing issues. He joined NGFA’s staff in 2007 after serving the previous four years as a program analyst at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Office of Outreach Services and Alliances. He is principal staff liaison to NGFA’s Safety, Health and Environmental Quality Committee and Grain Grades and Weights Committee.
ASHCA is a coalition of more than 50 organizations, businesses, federal agencies and safety professionals committed to improving the health and safety of farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. ASHCA’s collective goals and priorities are to:
- Raise the profile of worker safety within agricultural enterprises.
- Guide the development of effective delivery systems for safety and health information to farmers/ranchers and their workers.
- Influence research priorities to rapidly identify best management practices for worker safety and health that maximize cost efficiency and sustainability.
- Pursue effective national strategies to reduce disease, injuries and fatalities in agriculture.
