Tracking the prevalence of rollover protective structures on U.S. farm tractors: 1993, 2001, and 2004.
OBJECTIVE
Between 1992 and 2005, 1412 workers on farms died from tractor overturns. A Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) is a proven intervention to reduce overturn deaths. However, farm characteristics that are associated with the adoption of ROPS are not well understood.


METHODS
ROPS prevalence statistics were derived from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) surveys that tracked ROPS use on farms. Data were from the years 1993, 2001, and 2004.


RESULTS
In 1993, 38% of tractors were equipped with ROPS. This increased to 51% by 2004. ROPS prevalence rates were higher on farms in the Southern region of the United States, on farms where the operator was 25-34 years old, and on farms with $100,000 or more of farm sales. Low ROPS prevalence rates were associated with farm operators 65 years old or older and with farms with less than $10,000 of farm product sales.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in ROPS prevalence between 1993 and 2004 has not been sufficient to decrease the rate of tractor overturn deaths on farms. Incentive programs targeting older farm operators and low-income farm operations are suggested to increase ROPS use on tractors.


CONCLUSIONS
The study provides farm characteristics associated with low ROPS prevalence rates. The results can be used to target farms for future ROPS promotion activities.
Loringer
Kelly A
KA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Myers
John R
JR
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040241:Social Marketing; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult