GAP Connections January Newsletter

The application period for the 2023 GAPC Certification program is now open! All growers participating in the GAPC Certification program must apply every year in order to maintain Certification.

How to apply

1. Visit www.gapconnections.com

2. In the upper right hand corner, find "Log In" then "Log In to View Member Tools"

3. Enter your 6 digit Grower ID and password.

4. From the Grower Dashboard find, "Apply for Tobacco (or Hemp) Certification", "Start Tobacco (or Hemp) 2023".

5. Complete the application. You have come to end when payment is submitted. Payment will be processed upon approval.

Growers may also call GAPC to request a paper copy by mail. Paper applications are an additional $50.

More information about the Tobacco and Hemp GAPC Certification program can be found on our website.

The future of hemp starts with you. Establishing a higher standard across the industry requires accountability and collaboration at every step of the way. The GAPC Hemp Certification Program was developed to increase transparency and foster an environment which promotes sustainability, safety, compliance, profitability, and competition.

Not a current GAPC Grower member? Get started today by visiting www.gapconnections.com. Upon the completion of the grower registration form you will be issued a Grower ID number and mailed a Grower ID card.

Growers who successfully achieve GAPC Hemp Certification have the option to apply to the U.S. Hemp Authority to gain official status as U.S. Hemp Authority Certified.

Learn more.

GAP Connections (GAPC) coordinates GAP Training annually to provide growers the opportunity to learn from content experts about the latest crop, environmental, and labor best management practices. GAPC appreciates and recognizes the partnerships we have with the tobacco Extension Educators and Specialists and other content experts to best serve the growers.

In 2023, Annual GAP Training will be available online and at a select few in-person training locations and events.

Online Training is now open! Log in with your Grower ID and Password at www.gapconnections.com to get started.

Growers will have a variety of content videos in crop & environment, labor, and GAPC that they may select from to view. Once a grower completes watching the video, a short quiz will evaluate knowledge gained. Growers must score a 100% on the quiz for training credit to count.

One video is not enough!

To complete Annual GAP Training online and earn training credit, growers will be required to complete:

3 crop & environment videos and quizzes
3 labor videos and quizzes
3 GAPC videos and quizzes

Not sure about online training?

GAPC will be partnering with the County Extension offices, company members, and other partners to offer in-person training. In-person locations and dates are being scheduled now. Watch the GAPC Training Events Page for an in-person meeting near you.

For questions about Annual GAP Training, please contact Amy Rochkes, Training and Resource Coordinator, at (865) 622-4606, extension 107 or arochkes@gapconnections.com.

TN-KY Tobacco Expo

Tuesday, February 7 | Robertson County Fairgrounds, Springfield TN

Learn More.

OSHA is reminding employers to submit their 2022 OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) data by March 2, 2023.

Who is required to submit Form 300A data?

Establishments with 250 or more employees that are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records.

Establishments with 20 to 249 employees in designated industries.

Establishments under Federal OSHA jurisdiction can use the ITA Coverage Application to determine if they are required to electronically report their injury and illness information to OSHA. Establishments under State Plan jurisdiction should contact their State Plan.

How to submit Form 300A data:

As part of the Department of Labor’s IT modernization and security enhancement efforts, the Injury Tracking Application transitioned its login procedure to Login.gov — a secure sign-in service used by many government agencies. Current and new account holders need to create a Login.gov account to submit their 2022 injury and illness data. Detailed guidance on how to carry out this change is available as a job aid and video.

Questions? Visit the FAQs webpage.

GAP Connections Certification Requirement:

From February through April, growers
must post a summary of the injuries and
illnesses recorded the previous year
(OSHA Form 300 A)

If the operation has 20-250 workers, the
previous year’s OSHA Form 300A is required to be submitted by March 2 through the Injury Tracking
Application.

Did you know GAP Connections offers a free HR Legal Helpline? This service is available to all grower members to assist growers in navigating the many challenges that come with managing farm labor employees.

Growers may call the Helpline to ask questions like...

What happens if a worker is injured on my farm?

What is my responsibility as an employer if a worker decides to terminate his contract?

What are my OSHA requirements?

What payroll practices should I have in place?

Any kind of HR question, Jackson Lewis is there to help you. Worker terms and conditions, disciplining, employee housing and transportation, FLC employees, field sanitation, youth labor laws, etc...

Growers can access the helpline by phone (833) 499-0275 or email GAPConnectionsHotline@jacksonlewis.com. When contacting the helpline, please be prepared to provide your name, Grower ID number, location, type of issue, phone and email.

For more information visit www.jacksonlewis.com.

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Reminder: Electronic Submission of OSHA Form 300

GAPC HR Legal Helpline is Designed to Help You!