JA:2021-7. Compliance with Recommended Safety Standards among High-Risk Farm Equipment

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ABSTRACT Purpose: Tractor rollovers, machine entanglements, and falls have consistently resulted in high rates of fatal and nonfatal injury on farms. While rates continue to be high, we know very little about how compliant machinery and equipment are with recommended safety standards. This study examined compliance with recommended safety standards among 31 farms in Iowa. Methods: We developed a hazard assessment tool to evaluate agricultural injury hazards on farms. We enrolled 31 row crop farms in Iowa between August and October, 2019. Data collection included an interview with the farm owner or operator and an environmental assessment of safety hazards. We graded various hazards associated with tractors, entanglements, and falls using measures of compliance to recommended safety standards. We also examined the prevalence of injury to owners or operators, family members, contract farmworkers, and hired farm hands. Results/Findings: More than half (52%) of the farm workers experienced an injury that resulted in medical attention. Among the 31 farms enrolled, there were three fatalities related to farm work, all of which occurred among owners or operators. We found that 87% of farms were compliant with roll-over protective structures (ROPS), and 71% of farms had a seatbelt in good working condition. For power take-off (PTO) powered implements, 16% of farms were compliant with PTO guards. For fixed implements, such as augers, grain dryers, and bench grinders, 48% of farms were compliant with recommended safety standards. Approximately two-thirds of farms were compliant with ladder safety, and 45% were compliant with having handrails at working elevations. Practical Application: Many of the tractors and other hazardous equipment were present and mostly compliant with recommended safety standards. However, there is clearly a need for improved compliance with recommended safety standards among specific hazardous equipment on the farm. Our hazard assessment tool provides farmers and other stakeholders with an opportunity to systematically and comprehensively evaluate compliance to recommended safety standards.