Roger L. Tormoehlen

Estimating the prevalence of disability within the U.S. farm and ranch population.

ABSTRACT A review of literature was conducted on farm and ranch population estimates, the prevalence of disability in that group, and the effect of disease and injury on that disability rate. Methods used by various entities (primarily governmental) to estimate the population and disability prevalence among farmers, ranchers, family members, and other agricultural workers are summarized. A systematic methodology was developed to combine results from the most recent surveys and censuses and was used to make best estimates of the agricultural population impacted by disability. The findings show that estimates of the disability population in the farm, ranch, and agricultural labor sector, ranges from 1.04 million to 2.23 million individuals depending upon which surveys and censuses are used. Primary reasons identified for the inability to provide a more precise population size include lack of consistent survey methodologies and definitions. A strong argument can be made for additional efforts to determine a more accurate value for the number of individuals in the farm and ranch population who would benefit from disability services, as well as a more accurate estimate of the total population directly involved in agricultural production. Without such data, calculation of more reliable exposure levels to injury and disability is not possible.

Effectiveness of the Indiana 4-H tractor program at instilling safe tractor operating behaviors and attitudes in youth

The purpose of this research was to determine what impact the Indiana 4-H Tractor Program has had on safer tractor operating behavior and attitudes of participants and to provide recommendations for program improvement. To assess the impact, 108 non 4-H youth who reported they operated a tractor regularly were compared with 104 4-H Tractor Program participants. A single skilled evaluator observed each individual in the two groups as she/he operated a tractor through a standard tractor-operating course. Information on recent tractor-related injury history and attitudes toward tractor safety was gathered using a written survey. Results showed that the program has had both a perceived and demonstrable positive influence; however, a need for improvements was also shown. Most significant of the findings was that participants in the 4-H Tractor Program were observed to operate tractors in a safer and more skillful manner. Even though the 4-H Tractor Program participants reported substantially more exposure time to tractor operation, they did not report a significantly different injury experience in comparison to the non-participants. Responses from the 4-H program participants, however, indicated a trend toward having more tractor-related close call incidents. There was no significant difference between the two groups in their attitudes toward tractor safety. Program recommendations developed as a result of the study primarily related to the need for updating instructional material used in the 4-H Tractor Program and the need for additional training and resources for volunteer leaders.

Baseline Childhood Farm Safety Data for Indiana

A survey of Indiana farm homes was conducted in the winter of 1994-1995 to establish realistic baselines concerning child safety practices for populations in rural Indiana for the purpose of: (1) adjusting interventions to target specific issues where prevention efforts are most needed; and (2) evaluating the effectiveness of safety efforts targeting rural Indiana families. A questionnaire was designed to obtain baseline information for child safety practices on Indiana farms, and a stratified random sample of 1,500 Indiana farms (arrayed by county) was selected from a population consisting of all 60,000 Indiana farms. Survey procedures involved two mailings, and phone interviews with non-respondents, which yielded 597 usable questionnaires. Survey responses indicate that on Indiana farms where children reside or frequently visit, 63% of owner/operators allow children to ride as passengers on tractors and/or combines, and 36% allow children to operate tractors. Survey responses suggest that grandparents are more likely than parents to prohibit potentially dangerous farm activities (e.g., riding on tractors, combines, and grain transport vehicles, and operating tractors and ATVs), while parents are more likely to implement strategic safety practices (e.g., having a fire escape plan, and obtaining CPR/first aid training). Survey results also show that Indiana farm families do not meet national goals for the use of bicycle helmets, child seats/seatbelts, or smoke detectors.

Projecting Economic Losses Associated with Farm-related Permanent Disabilities

Utilizing estimated and actual cost data, an attempt was made to develop a reliable method of computing and projecting the economic losses associated with farm-related permanent disabling injuries. A MS-DOS compatible computer was selected as the platform upon which to develop the farm injury cost software program because of their widespread use and availability. The computer model was designed to tabulate injury-related costs by analyzing the cost incurred in the following areas: police assistance, fire/rescue service, ambulance service, hospital charges, follow-up medical costs, rehabilitation services, property damage, replacement labor, adaptive equipment, home and farm modifications, lost productivity, and legal expenses and/or income. Users have the option of entering actual injury cost data as they proceed through the program or using the default values contained in the computer program. The end result is a computer-generated cost estimate for the injury being analyzed. It was concluded that computer programs of this type could also be used as an injury prevention strategy by increasing the awareness of farm families and farm workers to the economic impact of farm-related injuries.

Utilizing Secondary Agricultural Education Programs to Deliver Evidence-Based Grain Safety Training for Young and Beginning Workers

ABSTRACT Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program (PUASHP) has collaborated with secondary agricultural education programs, including FFA Chapters, for over 70 years to deliver and promote agricultural safety and health programming. With support from a U.S. Department of Labor Susan Harwood Program grant, PUASHP utilized a Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) process to develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based curriculum for use with young and beginning workers, ages 16–20, exposed to hazards associated with grain storage and handling. The primary audience was students enrolled in secondary agricultural education programs. A review of the literature identified a gap in educational resources that specifically addresses this target population. The curriculum developed was based on fatality and injury incident data mined from Purdue’s Agricultural Confined Space Incident Database and input from a panel of experts. The process identified 27 learning outcomes and finalized a pool of test questions, supported by empirical evidence and confirmed by a panel of experts. An alignment process was then completed with the current national standards for secondary agricultural education programs. Seventy-two youth, ages 16–20, enrolled in secondary-school agricultural education programs, and a smaller group of post-secondary students under the age of 21 interested in working in the grain industry pilot tested the curriculum. Based on student and instructor feedback, the curriculum was refined and submitted to OSHA for approval as part of OSHA’s online training resources. The curriculum was delivered to 3,665 students, ages 16–20. A total of 346 pre- and post-tests were analyzed, and the results used to confirm content validity and assess knowledge gain. Findings led to additional modifications to curriculum content, affirmed knowledge gain, and confirmed appropriateness for use with secondary agricultural education programs. The curriculum has been promoted nationally and made available for free download from www.agconfinedspaces.org. Findings further confirmed the value of delivering safety programming through established programs such as secondary agricultural education programs and FFA Chapters serving youth.

CAI/multimedia approach to farm tractor and machinery safety certification

Research was conducted at Purdue University with the primary goal to compare a newly developed self-instructional CAI/multimedia computer program with traditional instructional methods for use by youth enrolled in a farm tractor and machinery safety program. Seventy-two subjects selected from three 8th and 9th grade agricultural education classes and one group of middle school-aged youth (grades 6–19) involved in a 4-H tractor and machinery-related program were randomly divided, with half of each group receiving traditional instructor-based training using printed materials, videos, and demonstrations, and the other half receiving self-instruction with a computer program. A pretest and post test evaluation revealed that there was not a statistical difference in knowledge gained between the two instructional strategies. However, an analysis of low, middle and high achievement youth, based on knowledge gain, did reveal significant difference between the two instructional strategies. Subjects from the computer-based instructional method dominated both high and low achievement groups, while the traditional instructional method subjects tended to fall into the middle achievement group.

Adjusting the Passing Scores for Gearing up for Safety: Production Agriculture Safety Training for Youth Curriculum Test Instruments.

Minimum passing scores for the Gearing Up for Safety: Production Agriculture Safety Training for Youth curriculum (Gearing Up for Safety) were set in 2006 with widely used and established procedures by efforts of subject matter experts (French, Breidenbach et al., 2007; French, Field, and Tormoehlen, 2006, 2007). While providing a research–based curriculum designed to assist in identifying youth who are ready to operate agricultural tractors and machinery, the Gearing Up for Safety curriculum also meets current requirements of the Agricultural Hazardous Occupation Orders (AgHOs) (Ortega, 2003). However, no work has been conducted to re–examine if the evaluative scores are appropriate or if adjustments should be made after field administration of the tests. The purpose of this study was to examine the appropriateness of those passing scores utilizing a compromise or adjustment method (Beuk, 1984). Although the group of experts rejected the recommendations for adjusting passing scores, the panel and researchers were able to review the empirical performance of the three test instruments as a curriculum package for the first time since the Gearing Up for Safety curriculum was developed over a decade ago. Passing standards, established from previous research, were also strengthened through research and re–evaluation (French, Field, et al., 2006, 2007).