If you are an ASABE member or if your employer has arranged for access to the full-text, click the underlined title below to view.
Don't have access to the full text? Click here for options.
The Certified Safe Farm Project in Nebraska: The First Year
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. 5(3): 301-308 . @1999
Authors: J. Jaspersen, P. List, L. Howard, D. Morgan, S. Von Essen
Keywords: Farm safety, Occupational health, Production agriculture, Certified Safe Farm, On-farm safety assessment, Health screens, Insurance
Potentially preventable death, disabling injury, and serious illness are very common
secondary to work in production agriculture in Nebraska and elsewhere. The traditional
approach to farm safety has consisted largely of education designed to prevent
traumatic injury. While education is of critical importance, additional incentives may be
needed to reduce fatal and non-fatal events to an acceptable level. The Certified Safe
Farm concept was developed in collaboration with two Nebraska health insurance
companies. The program consists of combining an on-farm safety assessment and
occupational health screening with an education program. The incentive to complete
this program is to be eligible for a reduction in health insurance premiums, which are a
large expense for farmers. A Certified Safe Farm pilot program was established in a
northeast Nebraska farm community with no prior occupational heath services for
farmers. A local nurse practitioner received agricultural health training and a local
farmer was trained to perform the on-farm safety assessments. Eleven farms were
enrolled in the program in the first year. While all passed the safety assessment process,
a number of important safety problems were identified. Also, a surprising number of
current health problems and risk factors for future illness were found. It is hoped that
successful participation in the Certified Safe Farms program will be used in the future
to offer Nebraska farm families reductions in their health insurance premiums.
|