October 2015: Dr. Harari-Freire Receives Lorin Kerr Award from APHA

homero

We would like to welcome our new faculty member, Homero Harari-Freire, ScD, MSc, CIH, a member of the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit in the Department of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Harari-Freire has recently received the Lorin Kerr Award from the Occupational Health and Safety Section of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Harari-Freirewas awarded this honor for his dedication to improving the health and safety of workers. He conducted field investigations and worker interviews in flower plantations in Ecuador and found that workers were exposed to respiratory and dermal hazards, even in flower plantations that had international third party certifications labeled as “eco-friendly” and “sustainable.” Dr. Harari-Freire’s work identified flower companies’ self-regulation through the use of environmental third party certifications. This work initiated an important global dialogue about the relevance of unions and health and safety regulations over third party certifications to effectively protect workers in the flower industry in Ecuador.