Lj. Chapman et al., FARM-WORK HAZARD PREVENTION EFFORTS BY SCHOOL-BASED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS, American journal of industrial medicine, 28(4), 1995, pp. 565-577
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.