Authors
Myers-ML; Cole-HP; Westneat-SC
Source
J Agric Saf Health 2004 May; 10(2):77-90
Abstract
A community educational campaign implemented in two Kentucky counties was effective in influencing farmers to retrofit their tractors with rollover protective structures (ROPS) to protect tractor operators from injury in the event of an overturn. This article reports on the cost-effectiveness of this program in the two counties when compared to no program in a control county. A decision analysis indicated that it would be effective at averting 0.27 fatal and 1.53 nonfatal injuries over a 20-year period, and when this analysis was extended statewide, 7.0 fatal and 40 nonfatal injuries would be averted in Kentucky. Over the 20-year period, the cost-per-injury averted was calculated to be $172,657 at a 4% annual discount rate. This cost compared favorably with a national cost of $489,373 per injury averted despite the additional program cost in Kentucky. The principle reason for the increased cost-effectiveness of the Kentucky program was the three-fold higher propensity for tractors to overturn in Kentucky. The cost-per-injury averted in one of the two counties was $112,535. This lower cost was attributed principally to incentive awards financed locally for farmers to retrofit their tractors with ROPS.
Keywords
Farmers; Injuries; Education; Safety-education; Agriculture; Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-workers; Agricultural-machinery; Tractors; Injury-prevention; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Traumatic-injuries
Contact
Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention, University of Kentucky, 141 Red Mile Road, Suite 102, Lexington, KY 40504-9842, USA
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
melmyers@bellsouth.net
Funding Type
Agriculture; Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U50-OH-007547
Source Name
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
Performing Organization
University of Kentucky