Tractor Risk Abatement and Control (TRAC) Melvin L. Myers melmyers@bellsouth.net

1. Tractor Risk Abatement and Control (TRAC)Melvin L. Myersmelmyers@bellsouth.net • The Epidemic • TRAC Conference • Strategies • Priorities

2. Agriculture at Risk, 1988 • the tractor is the predominant agent of traumatic death and disabling injury • a duty “to assure every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions” • the general public is unaware and therefore unconcerned

3. Epidemic of Death and InjuryTractor-Related! • 32% of agricultural deaths • 270 (+ non-occupational) fatalities/year • 20% are youth fatalities • 264,651 restricted workday injuries • 10,939 lost-time injuries

4. Tractor-related Fatalities(accumulated) 4860 270 deaths per year

5. TRAC Conference, 1997 • How do we assure that every tractor has a ROPS? • What policies are needed to • prevent injuries from tractor runovers? • prevent tractor-related collisions on roads? • eliminate tractor-related injuries among youth?

6. Strategy Definitions[theory of planned behavior] Attitudes: positive or negative evaluations Culture: traditions, ethics, and other standards that influence the way things are accomplished with others Intention Social pressures: individual’s perceptions of social pressures put on them Perceived control: the degree of control the person perceives Behavior [Intervention]

7. Overturns! Is the Strategy Complete?“How do we assure that every tractor that needs a ROPS has one?” Attitudes Monitor tractor injuries Culture Intention Social Pressure Rules for ROPS on tractors: by 2003, operated by youth or employees by 2005, all tractors sold; recycling program by 2007, on roads by 2010, those w/ ROPS design by 2015, all tractors Change social norm Perceived Control Establish subsidy Fund research for ROPS designs Define liability Promote incentive programs

8. Collisions! Is the Strategy Complete?“What combination of public and private policies are needed to prevent tractor-related collisions on roads?” Attitudes questions on drivers exam promote driving safety Culture Intention Social Pressure by 2005, valid driver’s license required by 2005, adopt tractor lighting and marking codes from Question 1: by 2007, ROPS on roads promote equipment visibility Perceived Control incentives for tractor safety on roads

9. Runovers! Is the Strategy Complete?“What combination of public and private policies are needed to prevent injuries from tractor runovers?” Attitudes Promote: devises to stop by-pass starting approved extra-rider seats Culture Intention From Question 1: ROPS on tractors Social Pressure no extra-rider norm educate public Perceived Control From Question 1: Promote incentive programs

10. Youth! Is the Strategy Complete?What combination of public and private policies are needed to eliminate tractor-related injuries among youth? Attitudes • distribute age- • appropriate guidelines Culture Intention • formal youth- • operator training Social Pressure • parental supervision Perceived Control For example, child care recommendations from the National Committee for Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention

11. Impact: Tractor-related Fatalities(accumulated) ROPS-all ROPS-design exists ROPS-on roads ROPS-on sales; license; retirement incentives More than 2000 lives can be saved! ROPS-youth, employees

12. Priority: Changing Culture • National Safety Council diffuse knowledge of a public duty to control recognized tractor hazards, ala “primary noxious weeds.” • NIOSH Centers adopt tractor intervention principles from Victoria, Australia. • NIOSH maintain a national surveillance of tractor-related injuries (and fatalities) w/NHTSA and DoL; Repeat the Traumatic Injury Survey of Farmers every 5 years.

13. Duty to Control Recognized Tractor Hazards • install ROPS (including a foldable ROPS in low clearance areas) on non-ROPS production tractors, • use seatbelt in the presence of a ROPS, • install latest approved (by the ASAE) lighting and marking on farm equipment, • allow no extra riders on tractors, • install devises to prevent bypass starting, • assure that tractor operators have a driver’s license prior to driving on public roads. • require young operators have formal tractor driver training , and • keep children away from tractors.

14. Victoria, Australia Principles(ROPS intervention) • acquaint target audience with preliminary rebate schemes • involve key players in early planning, • recognize and use opportunities, • gain acceptance before implementation, • create receptive environment, • combine strategies (regulatory, publicity and education, financial incentive, and perceived enforcement), • review and address difficulties and barriers before implementation, • update key players and target audience on progress, and • monitor implementation for issues and alert the target audience.

15. Priority: Changing Attitudes • NIOSH launch sentinel event surveillance of tractor fatalities (w/ NTSB) with a human parable “blitz” where each death occurs (ala Kentucky ROPS project). • USDA & the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) establish an agromedicine program in each state and focus on Best Management Practices for tractor safety. • USDA establish an “active” internet extension program for safety.

16. Priority: Changing Norms • The NSC National Education Center lead the social marketing recommendations in the TRAC report. • FHA launch a “Sharing the Road” program for farm equipment on rural roads, and DoT update its 1971 report on tractor safety on public roads. • CDC’s NCIPC add “Safe Farm” to its “Safe America” campaign.

17. Priority: Changing Perceived Control • NIOSH, EMI, and USDA launch university-based ROPS design programs. • The Farm Bureau and other insurance companies extend incentives for and publicize farm safety interventions, ala Certified Safe Farm. • ORHP promote farm safety at rural hospitals and encourage rebates for interventions, ala Bradford Co., PA project.

18. Priority: The NIOSH Program • Continue to fill voids left by other agencies, e.g., USDA, DoL, ORHP, NHTSA. • Maintain integrity of the agriculture program by accounting for budget and funded staff. • Focus child safety efforts at tractor safety.