The Pennsylvania Central Region Farm Safety Pilot Project: Part II — Baseline Data Associations between Approach-to-Safety and Hazard Conditions

Abstract

This article analyzes baseline data associations between farmers' approach-to-safety and hazard conditions on their farms. Identifying which aspects of approach-to-safety are significantly associated with actual hazard conditions will help researchers design and implement more effective educational interventions. Baseline data on 216 different farms in the Pennsylvania Central Region Farm Safety Pilot Project (PCRFSPP) were collected through the use of a self-administered survey questionnaire of the farmers' approach-to-safety and a hazard audit (by a trained auditor) of participating farms. Factor analysis was used to determine construct validity of the questionnaire. To measure the reliability of the survey, Cronbach's alpha was calculated for each component in the questionnaire. After adjusting for significant demographics (farm size, income, and hired labor) in a linear regression, greater concern by farm operators for absence of safety features was significantly associated with less hazardous conditions. These results provide useful guidelines for designing and implementing agricultural safety interventions by identifying which factors are significantly related to hazard conditions.

Full article can be found in: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
Access this publication at: ASABE Technical Library