Citation

Sorensen JA, Tinc PJ, Dalton D, Scott EE, Jenkins PL. J. Agromed. 2017; 22(3): 251-258.

Affiliation

The Bassett Research Institute, Bassett Medical Center , Cooperstown , NY.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1059924X.2017.1318726

PMID

28402231

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Power take-off (PTO) driveline entanglements are a primary source of injury on US farms. As with many farm injury concerns, hazard control technology is widely available for mitigating the risk of these entanglements. Despite the availability of hazard control technology, PTO shields are damaged or missing on approximately 57% of PTO driveline implements in New York. Given the catastrophic nature of entanglements and the ready access to safety technology, a better understanding of what motivates farmers to install or replace PTO shields is warranted.

METHODS: To examine this question, agricultural health and safety researchers in NY conducted an initial comparison of PTO shield sales on farms receiving one of three different interventional approaches. These included: PTO shield audits, a social marketing campaign, and on-farm safety services. PTO shield purchases were tracked from January 2011 through June 2016 on farms receiving these interventions and on other farms that were not exposed to interventional strategies.

RESULTS: Results indicate a significantly higher number of PTO shields were purchased on farms that requested and received on-farm safety services vs. farms that were exposed to PTO shield audits, the social marketing campaign, or the control group. PTO shield sales were slightly elevated on farms receiving driveline audits, as compared to control farms (although these differences were not significant).

CONCLUSIONS: No marked differences in sales were noted between control farms and farms exposed to the social marketing campaign. Only one of the three interventional strategies (onfarm safety services) approached the number of PTO shield sales necessary to prevent an entanglement.

Language: en

Keywords

Power Take-off shields; behavior change; driveline entanglements; farm injuries; farm safety; safety audits; safety training; social marketing