Farm Safety Starts with YOUth! Implementing tractor safety certification statewide in North Dakota
4-H and Youth Programming
Angie Johnson
NDSU Extension Farm & Ranch Safety Coordinator
North Dakota State University
Fargo
Abstract
Developing safety habits in the workforce starts at a young age with positive adult role models. Agriculture had the leading number of occupational fatalities across industries for youth age 17 and younger from 2011-2020. It is estimated that about 33 children are injured in agriculture-related incidents every day. By utilizing evidence-based farm/ranch safety training techniques, youth and their families (or employer) are taught how to safely communicate, troubleshoot problems, work with others and operate equipment – all of which are skillsets to prepare the next generation of workers with lifelong safety skills that are transferrable to any career path chosen by youth, to prevent tragic injuries or fatalities from taking place.
Objectives: The Tractor and Machine Certification Program, known as “Farm Safety Camp” for 14–15-year-old youth in North Dakota, was a multifaceted project led by the state farm and ranch safety coordinator and Extension agents to address the needs of:
- 14-15-year-old North Dakota youth to become certified to operate tractors and farm machinery for an employer or their own operation in an all hands-on, overnight camp event, meeting the Hazardous Occupation Order in Agriculture (HOOA) requirements.
- 2) Parents, guardians, and employers of 14-15-year-old youth on farm operations to become stronger positive role models of safety, communicate effectively with youth employees, and properly identify farm tasks that are appropriate for their youth employee’s physical and mental abilities.
Methods: We accomplished our objectives by creating three, statewide “Farm Safety Camps”. These camps took place in three unique regions of North Dakota, covering the east, central, and western portions of the state. Over 30 county-based Extension agents lead hands-on training. Agents taught campers how to drive different tractors, utilize hand-signals to communicate, conduct pre-operation checks/maintenance of equipment, hook-up a PTO shaft, connect hydraulic hoses, read plot maps, put farm emergency plans together, practice roadway safety, understand farm stress, and properly handle sheep by herding them into a corral as a team. Community collaborators also participated in our camps, providing ATV certification (ND Parks and Recreation), “Stop the Bleed” training (Sanford Health), Electrical line safety (local electric cooperatives), fire safety (local fire departments), and “No Zone”, a semi-truck and trailer safety demonstration to showcase the blind spots when driving a semi or sharing the road with a semi (ND Motor Carriers Assn.).
Results/Impact:
In our 2022 farm safety camp offerings, 27 youth successfully passed the written exam and driving exam to receive official Dept. of Labor HOOA certificate to work on a farm operation, other than their family’s farm. We increased student knowledge over 24%. In a follow-up survey to youth, 100% of participants gained confidence in asking questions to parent/employer when they did not know how to conduct a task on the farm and speaking up to their parent or employer when they felt unsafe about a task and 85% of parents stated they will now ask their child to practice a task they provide them first, before allowing the child to do it on their own. When asked if camp participants would “tell a friend about farm safety camp”, over 71% of participants said they would ‘highly recommend’ telling their friend to attend this camp. Our team implemented a “Parent Leadership in Action” program, where participants taught their parents communication skills, how to assign appropriate tasks on the farm, and the importance of role modeling safety. Once parent shared, “The parent portion at the end of camp, I believe, was an integral component to success for the participants and their families. Kiddos at this age aren't always very communicative. Even though they may have learned and retained lots at camp, if the parents aren't aware of what they learned to be able to reinforce and become part of the process, the connection won't be as strong. It was really important for us as parents to get a rundown of what was all covered during Tractor Safety Camp first hand from instructors and participants. Perhaps some kiddos could be "Tractor Safety Camp" Ambassadors" and help with future Safety Camps or Workshops? And finally, I LOVE that you are adding/talking about mental health. The more we talk about it and normalize it, the more people will be willing to talk about it. It is so important and thank you for having the courage to be an advocate! My son wants to come back to camp next year!”. The success of this program can be replicated to other states who are looking to implement or strengthen thier tractor certification program for 14-15 year-old youth and their families.
Authors: Angie Johnson, Renae Gress, Lacy Christopher, Lindsay Overmyer, Craig Askim
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Angie Johnson NDSU Extension Farm & Ranch Safety Coordinator, NDSU Extension, North Dakota, 58108-6050
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Renae Gress ANR Extension agent, NDSU Extension, North Dakota, 58554
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Lacy Christopher ANR Extension agent, NDSU Extension, North Dakota, 58075
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Lindsay Overmyer ANR Extension agent, NDSU Extension, North Dakota, 58301
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Craig Askim ANR Extension agent, NDSU Extension, North Dakota, 58523