Available mortality and morbidity data consistently show that agriculture continues to be one of the most hazardous industries in the US. Among children and adolescents, mobile farm machinery is the number one hazard associated with fatal farm injuries. Tractor certification programs, mandated by the federal Hazardous Occupations Order, are one strategy for increasing safe tractor operation and thus reducing tractor-related injuries among youth. The Ohio Tractor and Machinery Certification Program (OTMCP) is a training program for 14 and 15 year olds who operate tractors, and is taught through both the 4-H program and agriculture education classes in public schools.
Little formal evaluation of tractor certification programs has been conducted. In order to assess the effectiveness of the OTMCP, we conducted a quasi-experimental study to compare the safety knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of youth who participated in the OTMCP with youth who operate tractors but did not participate in the program. Pre- and post-test data were collected from 384 youth through self-administered questionnaires. The results of heirarchical regression analyses show that participants in the OTMCP experienced more of an increase than did non-participants in several areas: self-reported safety behavior, scores on a safety knowledge test, belief in the potential severity of a tractor-related injury, self-efficacy for safety behaviors, and belief in the benefits of performing safe behaviors. All of these results suggest that the OTMCP is having a positive effect on participants, but the magnitude of the program's effects is modest. Implications for program re-design will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, learners will be able to: (1) describe the impact of a youth safety training program and (2) use the evaluation's results to suggest program improvements.
Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Youth at Work
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.