FARM-WORK HAZARD PREVENTION EFFORTS BY SCHOOL-BASED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS

Objective: To assess current prevention efforts, we examined agricultu ral work-related safety and health activities by school-based agricult ural education instructors in Wisconsin. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 284 high school agricultural education instructors. Re sults: Instructors taught agricultural safety and health to 61.5 stude nts during 20.4 hours during the previous year. Extension agents were used most often as resources during preparation and presentation of co ursework. Only a minority of instructors (13.6%) agreed that modifying the work to eliminate hazards should be emphasized over training peop le to work safely around hazards. After issues of time pressures and l ack of student interest, the most important problems the instructors f elt they faced were the needs for materials and other resources. Concl usion: Safety education alone is unlikely to reduce injuries unless un safe conditions are modified. Instructors need to emphasize teaching o f skills in hazard recognition, identification, and control. Instructo rs felt they could be more effective with better materials and more ti me for injury and disease prevention. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.