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Abstract
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Background Almost all tractor roll-over fatalities can be prevented by the use of safety equipment such as Roll-Over Protection (ROPS) and seatbelts. Unfortunately, many farmers still do not wear seatbelts on ROPS tractors.
Aims This is part of a larger NIOSH-funded study utilising the Theory of Planned Behavior to evaluate a family-based farm safety intervention. This presentation focuses on wearing seatbelts on ROPS tractors.
Methods This research utilised a longitudinal, randomised-control design including two intervention groups (primary farmers or safety experts as teachers) and a no-treatment control. Lessons were taught to the whole family. Almost all primary farmers were fathers. Data were collected from the whole family. Data reported in this presentation were from 115 families.
Results ANCOVAs revealed that, after controlling pre-intervention levels, farmers in the primary farmer-led group were less likely to have unsafe behaviours and intentions related to operating ROPS tractor without a seatbelt than those in the safety expert or control group. Both intervention groups reported a positive change in attitudes and risk awareness as compared to the control group. Youth in primary farmer-led group reported a positive change in behaviour compared to control group. Groups did not differ in intentions and risk awareness.
Significance When primary farmers are involved in teaching their families about farm safety, it has a positive impact on their own behaviours and intentions as they see themselves as models for their youth. Findings help us create effective interventions that impact behavioural change in fathers and youth related to farm safety.
This is an abstract of a presentation at Safety 2012, the 11th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, 1-4 October 2012, Michael Fowler Center, Wellington, New Zealand. Full text does not seem to be available for this abstract. |