ROPS Commentary-Addressing Our Fatal Blind Spot: Applying Evidence-Based Solutions to Reduce the Most Frequent Cause of Death on U.S. Farms

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dorfman L ; Mejia P ; Milkovich PJ ; Perez-Sanz SB ; Sorensen JA
• Description:
  Tractor overturns are the most prominent contributing factor to death on U.S. farms and have been for decades. While public health researchers hypothesized years ago that overturn fatalities would largely disappear as older tractors were replaced by newer ones, this has not happened. In the meantime, farmers continue to die in these easily preventable and tragic events. Not only are tractor rollover protective structures (ROPS) 99% effective in preventing death in the event of an overturn, a national program exists to connect farmers with ROPS. While this program has been popular with farmers, and the cost-effectiveness of providing farmers with technical support and cost-sharing rebates has been demonstrated, many states lack access to ROPS rebates, even those states with the highest number of overturn fatalities. Given the evidence, it is difficult to reconcile the lack of policy or public investment in a solution that decisively addresses the most pernicious contributor to death in the agricultural industry. In this commentary, we highlight the science behind this proven solution to tractor overturns and the essential role that the media and implementation science can play in encouraging policy-makers to save lives. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Mortality Occupational Health Public Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Implementation Science Farm Workers Fatalities Injury Prevention Media Advocacy Policy Public Health Rollover Protective Structures ROPS Safety Programs Tractors

  More +
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  66
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067471
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2023 Jul; 66(7):554-557
• Contact Point Address:
  Julie A. Sorensen, NYCAMH/NEC, One Atwell Rd, Cooperstown, New York, 13326
• Email:
  julie.sorensen@bassett.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20200801
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20240731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f48ce5ce3c697df74a40a2acc4a95c6c6fe362e0041cb361f77bb100f440c9be62c3c36b17e866220746edb59f0336a64ba33929fcda0cf68a6fd0bef0f620fd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231468/cdc_231468_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 282.24 KB ]