By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 ext. 281Source:
Carol Lehtola CJLehtola@ifas.ufl.edu, 352-392-1864 ext. 223
GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Carol Lehtola, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, received the 2004 NAMIC Engineering Safety Award from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE).
Sponsored by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the NAMIC award honors outstanding engineering contributions to the advancement of agricultural safety engineering in research, design, education or promotion. Lehtola received the award August 4 at the international ASAE meeting in Ottawa, Ontario.
Lehtola, who is the state agricultural safety specialist for UF’s Extension Service, supports extension agents throughout Florida in their safety education efforts, using publications and other media to train employers, workers and citizens about safe practices for using agricultural equipment.
She is extension’s point person for the UF Disaster Information Program and Florida’s primary contact for the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). In June 2003, she received a group Honor Award from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman for her work in helping develop EDEN.
Lehtola also maintains the National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD), which makes agricultural safety information and programs available for training and research throughout the nation.
She developed the initial tractor safety program that promoted the use of roll-over protection structures (ROPS). She also produced a video, Rhythm of the Seasons, that tells the story of how a boy’s death eventually led to the founding of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. Her course developments include agricultural safety, engineering safety, and agricultural risk management and the law.
Lehtola, who joined the UF faculty in 1996, has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from South Dakota State University. She completed her master and doctoral degrees in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University.
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