Annual/Termination Reports:

[06/30/2006] [05/07/2007] [11/12/2007] [01/22/2008] [05/20/2008] [01/07/2009] [01/07/2009] [09/16/2009] [06/08/2010] [09/20/2010]

Report Information

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

The NCR 197 committee's goal was to utilize the Land Grant System's research and extension capacity in cooperation with the experience of those who live and work in agriculture to reduce work-related injuries, illness, and death. <br /> <br /> Outputs: The National Agenda for Action document was developed, printed, and distributed with support from a USDA Innovative Funds Grant secured by the committee. This document identifies the 12 priority agricultural health and safety research areas with 115 individual research topics. <br /> <br /> Indicators: The committee has received indicators that point to successful adoption of the 12 priority areas. The National Agenda for Action was adopted by the National Institute for Farm Safety during the 2005 annual member meeting. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association used the National Agenda for Action to augment the development of their research and outreach priorities. Mr. Charles Bonson, the commissioner of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, responded to the National Agenda for Action with this comment: "Your document clearly outlines the overriding national priorities so essential for continued strength of U.S. agriculture. Your report's clear delineation of national goals will hopefully provide a road map for our state and other states to use in assisting their land grant and research efforts."<br /> <br /> Milestones: The committee facilitated open communication with a NIOSH representative. A NIOSH representative was invited to serve as a member of NCR 197 committee. A representative agreed and that representative attended all meetings and updated the committee with agency reports from NIOSH. <br /> Over 9,000 copies of the National Agenda for Action was distributed to agriculture engineering departments, experiment station directors, agricultural deans, state departments of agriculture, USDA safety contacts, members of the National Institute for Farm Safety, NIOSH agricultural centers and administration, etc.<br /> <br /> A shared faculty position with USDA was developed and funded to promote the National Agenda for Action. Dennis Murphy at Penn State University is the committee member in the shared faculty position providing leadership to the National Agenda for Action.<br /> <br /> A poster providing background behind the National Agenda for Action, setting the challenges for agricultural safety and health, explaining the Land Grant system capacity, identifying the twelve priority areas, and setting out the recommendations for actions was developed.<br /> <br /> An informational flyer was developed that condenses the National Agenda for Action document for easy dissemination.<br /> <br /> An executive summary of the National Agenda for Action, informally known as the Investing In the Future document, was developed for use with executive and advisory committees. <br /> <br /> Activities: Several committee members influenced or organized national relevant seminars and themes for conference sessions as a forum to highlight outstanding safety and health research from the Land Grant Institutions. These events publicized and disseminated the National Agenda for Action and outcomes from research and activities in the defined twelve priority areas.<br /> <br /> A proposal was developed to form NCERA 197 to build and support action groups for each of the 12 priority areas identified in the national agenda for action. These action groups will continue to implement technical and public reviews and assessments across the nation of the National Agenda for Action document.<br />

Publications

North Central Region 197 Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health. 2003. National land grant research and extension agenda for agricultural safety and health. ISU Reference No. EDC-292. 18 pp. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University.

Impact Statements

1. committee produced a National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health document (hereafter referenced as National Agenda for Action) that served as a catalyst to bring about awareness, to give guidance for the agricultural safety and health issues, and to advocate for funding priorities that address issues reported in the national agenda and identified by stakeholders inputs.

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Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

The NCERA 197 committees goal are to develop and support action groups for each of the 12 agricultural safety and health priority areas identified in the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health, develop assessment tools to measure impact, and to create a supportive environment for exchange of ideas, partnering, and involvement of stakeholders. Each of the 12 priority areas is broad-based and multi-faceted. The decision was made to focus on one area and develop an action plan model that could then be used for the other priorities. The end product of this action plan model would be a White Paper on the topic to be shared and distributed to researchers and interested parties. The priority area selected was Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. An action plan template was developed, action steps were identified and deadlines established, and chair persons were identified. At the same time, the committee will begin information gathering on the priority area of Sensors and Guarding. <br /> <br /> Activities: a) National Agenda was included as background in presentation to proposed U.S. Coalition for Farm Safety; b) A presentation on the national agenda was made to a University of Iowa School of Public health graduate class; c) National agenda priorities were presented to National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) Sector Council as part of overview of agricultural safety and health.; d) The Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads priority topic was divided into 7 specific subtopics to better facilitate development of the White Paper; e) Timeline were set for the several steps involved in developing the White Paper, with goal of having a completed paper to present at the 2008 National Institute for Farm Safety Annual and American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers Conferences.<br /> <br /> Milestones: a) NASULGC Administrators sent emails to experiment station directors encouraging agricultural safety and health to be included as a topic at their annual conference; b) A web-based online survey was developed to document current research and extension activities occurring at land grant universities in the 12 priority areas identified in the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health; c) An Action Plan Template with specific steps and processes were developed to help guide development of White Papers for selected priorities.<br /> <br />

Publications

Impact Statements

1. The National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health was presented and accepted as a key resource document to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Healths (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF), Sector Council. The AgFF Sector Council is charged to set research priorities for NIOSH.

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Participants

Dennis Murphy  chairperson (Penn State), Marshall Martin  Administrative Advisor (Purdue), Bob Aherin (Univ. of Ill), Dee Jepsen (Ohio State), John Myers (CDC-NIOSH), Aaron Yoder (Penn State)

Brief Summary of Minutes

NCERA 197
Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension Coordinating Committee
Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads White Paper Sub-Committee
September 27, 2007
Conference Call Minutes

Attendees: Dennis Murphy  chairperson (Penn State), Marshall Martin  Administrative Advisor (Purdue), Bob Aherin (Univ. of Ill), Dee Jepsen (Ohio State), John Myers (CDC-NIOSH), Aaron Yoder (Penn State)

The meeting was called to order at 3 pm EST by Bob Aherin with a welcome and participants introduced themselves.

Update on other committee members for each topic of the white paper and progress report on 1st draft, reactions from participants
1. Papers were submitted by the High Speed Tractor group and the Horse Drawn Vehicle group.
2. All committee members welcomed others to their sub-committees and asked for help with recruitment. It was brought up that someone should ask John Shutske to participate, but we are unclear in what group. John Myers is having difficulties finding committee members that are not already involved in other groups. It was suggested that he contact Tom Karsky. We should also explore contacting our Farm Bureau contacts as well as others from nonprofit and government organizations.
3. Marshall Martin asked for clarification on the topic of Transportation of workers. To the best of the groups knowledge of previous discussions, it was decided that this topic referred to:
a. Bus services provided by employers
b. Transportation provided by the workers to and from worksites, and
c. Independent or contract services
4. Clarification was also sought for the Rural / Urban interface. To the best of the groups knowledge of previous discussions, it was decided that this topic referred to:
a. Roadway congestion
b. Time of day
c. Lighting and marking
d. Escort vehicles
e. Impact of biofuel feedstock production
f. Drivers education of both tractor and automobile drivers
5. The licensing of drivers discussion identified:
a. Should an auto style drivers license be required?
b. Discuss the states with training programs like WI
c. Which states have younger drivers?
d. NSTMOP  National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program
e. Older drivers
f. Age appropriate tasks  NAGCAT
6. The Lighting and Marking discussion identified:
a. Bob is working on a outline
b. Review the lighting and marking article from Successful Farming
c. Review the ASABE PM-23 committee for potential members of all white paper committees
i. Dwight B. CNH
ii. Shannon B. JD
iii. Swartz
iv. Chuck Brundage AGCO
v. Jim Carabba NYCAM
vi. John Fischer
vii. B. Mayeda Kubota
viii. Loyd Redding
ix. Murry Madsen Univ. of IA
d. Blind Spot questions
i. Cameras
ii. Mirrors

Discussion of NIFS Professional Development Session commitment
1. A schedule for the professional development session needs to be developed
a. 3-4 hours
b. Will this be a dialogue with NIFS members or will a final copy be presented?
c. Can feedback from this session be incorporated into the final paper?
d. How can we improve dissemination methods?
2. Should cover history to the future
a. Where weve come from
b. Where we are at now
c. Where are we going
3. Regulatory Situation
4. Murphy will draft a presentation agenda and share with committee for comments.
5. Aherin volunteered to manage the professional development session.

What is the purpose of the white paper?
1. It is most likely too long for a journal, other options:
a. USDA Library
b. ASABE Manuscript
2. It needs to be complete by NIFS, June 22nd to 26th, 2008

Should it be submitted to ASABE?
1. Should be in a Paper/Panel Discussion
2. Should be tailored to engineers
3. Possibly a history of NCERA 197
4. Abstract due Oct 19th
5. Murphy will draft an abstract and send to committee for comments.

Timeline and Next Steps
1. All white paper subcommittees need to have a 1st draft to Dennis by Nov 1st, 2007
2. Dec 14 -- send out 2nd draft white paper,
3. Dec 18 -- second conference call, 10 am EST, identify external reviewers,
4. Jan 31 -- After review and revisions by NCERA members, send out 3rd draft to public for review and comments,
5. Feb 29 -- response needed,
6. March 31 -- final rewrite (4th draft),
7. April 24-25 -- face to face meeting in Washington DC  Brad to get room. Write a common introduction, identify overlap, rewrite as needed (5th draft).


Conference call ended approximately 4:30 pm EST.

Aaron Yoder, Recorder.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

1. The National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health was presented and accepted as a key resource document to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Healths (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF), Sector Council. The AgFF Sector Council is charged to set research priorities for NIOSH.
2. The National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health was presented and accepted as a key resource document in the formation of a new non-profit agricultural industry-driven organization named Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA). This new council will advocate priorities, policy and programs to benefit U.S. farmers and ranchers.
3. Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads, priority #2 from the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health document, has been selected by the Professional Improvement Committee of the National Institute for Farm Safety as the professional development topic during its annual conference in 2008.

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Report Information

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Dennis Murphy  Chair (Penn State); Marshall Martin  Administrative Advisor (Purdue); Brad Rein (CSREES NPL); Karen Hunter (CSREES NPL); Bob Aherin (Illinois); Bill Field (Purdue); Dee Jepsen (April 24 only) (Ohio State); John Myers (CDC-NIOSH); Larry Olsen (Michigan State); Mark Purschwitz (Kentucky); Charles Schwab (Iowa State), John Slocombe (Kansas State)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

The NCERA 197 committees goal are to develop and support action groups for each of the 12 agricultural safety and health priority areas identified in the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health, develop assessment tools to measure impact, and to create a supportive environment for exchange of ideas, partnering, and involvement of stakeholders. Each of the 12 priority areas is broad-based and multi-faceted. The decision was made to focus on one area and develop an action plan model that could then be used for the other priorities. The end product of this action plan model would be a White Paper on the topic to be shared and distributed to researchers and interested parties. The priority area selected was Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. An action plan template was developed, action steps were identified and deadlines established, and chair persons were identified. <br /> <br /> Short-term Outcomes: The safe operation of agricultural equipment on public roads is included in both new curriculums designed to meet training and certification requirements for the U.S. Department of Labors Agricultural Hazardous Occupations Orders (Ag HOs). These curriculums are the National Safety Tractor and Machinery Operation Program and the Gearing Up 4 Safety program. Both curriculums are appropriate for a much broader audience than the 14-15 year olds required by law to receive the training to be hired to operate tractors over 20 horsepower and powered machinery on non-family owned farms. <br /> <br /> Outputs: Purdue University produced a safety education CD titled Sharing the Road that addresses many of the specific concerns the committee has for operating agricultural equipment on public roads. The CD has been distributed to committee members and will be available to all NIFS Workshop participants. <br /> <br /> Activities: a)Two conference calls were held by committee members to report on and discuss progress on the white paper. b)A draft white paper was distributed prior to the annual meeting. This draft served as the primary focus for discussions at the annual meeting. c)Final plans were developed for presenting the draft white paper at the 2008 National Institute for Farm Safety (NIFS) professional Development Workshop. Additional input for the white paper will be collected during this workshop. <br /> <br /> Milestones: a)The National Institute for Farm Safety accepted our proposal to devote the professional development section of their 2008 annual conference to Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. This is the first time an outside group has been given the opportunity to manage the professional development section of the NIFS annual conference. b)The North Central Regional Association considers that NCERA 197 is a very effective NCERA committee, exhibiting good interaction and excellent ties to the DHHS and the national safety programs for agriculture and other areas. During their midterm review, they approved continuation of the NCERA 197 committee.<br />

Publications

Impact Statements

1. NIOSHs AgFF Sector Council was tasked to identify the most salient safety and health needs and develop a strategic plan to address them. The AgFF Sector Council seeks to identify important research questions, recognize priority safety and health concerns, understand effective intervention strategies, and disseminate information on strategies to improve safety and health workplace practice. The National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health served as a key resource document in development of the AgFF Sector Councils strategic plan.

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Participants

Attendees: Dennis Murphy  Chair (Penn State); Marshall Martin  Administrative Advisor (Purdue); Brad Rein (CSREES NPL); Bob Aherin (Illinois); Bill Field (Purdue); Dee Jepsen (Ohio State); John Myers (CDC-NIOSH); Mark Purschwitz (Kentucky); Carol Lehtola (Florida); Bobby Grisso (Virginia Tech); Aaron Yoder (Penn State); Connie Baggett (Penn State)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Please see attached document.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Please see attached.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

September 10, 2009 conference call minutes attached.



SAES-422 Multi-state Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Project/Activity Number: NCERA 197
Project/Activity Title: Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension
Period covered: 04-2008 to 10-2009
Date of Report: 1-October-2009
Annual Meeting Dates: 20-November-2008 to 21-November-2008


Participants
Listerve


Brief Summary of Annual Meeting
Minutes Attachment:


Accomplishments
In April 2007 the NCERA 197 committee selected Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads as a priority topic to be addressed by the committee through a White Paper. This was the second listed priority in the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health. The topic was divided into seven sections, subcommittee chairs were appointed and additional subcommittee members were recruited. An initial draft of the white paper was presented at a Professional Development Workshop conducted at the June 2008 annual conference of the National Institute for Farm Safety. Feedback and input were gained from approximately 35 workshop participants. Subsequent drafts were developed, reviewed and revised by the NCERA 197 committee and section subcommittees. The final document, Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads, was released to the public as a .pdf document by Penn State University on February 25 and by USDA-CSREES on February 27, 2008.


Short-term Outcomes:


Outputs:
The Agricultural Equipment on Public Roadways document has received extensive national exposure on public web sites and through the national and state media. A .pdf of the white paper document is located on the following public web sites:
" http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/white_papers/pdfs/ag_equipment.pdf
" http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/
" http://lgu.umd.edu/lgu_v2/homepages/home.cfm?trackID=6763
" http://www.nasdonline.org/docs/d001901-d002000/d001906/d001906.html
" http://www.agsafety.psu.edu/pdfs/Ag%20Equip%20on%20Public%20Roads.pdf
" http://asae.frymulti.com/azdez.asp?JID=5&AID=26903&CID=reno2009&T=2
National and state news releases included:
" Penn State Ag Sciences Newswire: Guidance for Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. March 2, 2009
" USDA-CSREES: CSREES North Central Region Multi-state Committee Releases White Paper on Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. February 26, 2009
" Iowa State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Experts Seek Improved Farm Equipment Safety on Public Roads. April 23, 2009
" NIOSH eNews. Traffic Hazards of Moving Ag Equipment on Rural Roadways. Volume 6, No. 12, April 2009.
" CropLife News. Experts Seek Improved Ag Equipment Safety On Public Roads. April 28, 2009.
" The theme for National Farm Safety and Health Week became Rural Roadway Safety: Alert, aware, Alive. This is a national awareness campaign.
Radio Interviews:
" Chuck Schwab, Iowa State University, 25 minute interview
Magazines:
" New USDA report focuses on road way safety. Successful Farming, May-June, 2009. p 57.
" Federal Guidance Needed for Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. Professional Safety, May, 2009, p. 17.
Miscellaneous
" An interactive online safety training course titled Road Safety: Sharing the Road with Agricultural Equipment has been placed on the National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD) web site by member Dr. Carol Lehtola.


Activities:
" Three conference calls were held by committee members to report on and discuss development, presentations and distribution of the white paper. A draft of the white paper was distributed to professional development workshop registrants at, the 2008 National Institute for Farm Safety (NIFS), Inc Annual Conference.
" At the November 2008 in-person meeting, committee members selected Agricultural Confined Spaces as the next priority topic the committee should address. This was priority #3 in the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety & Health.
" Farm Equipment/Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention, Des Moines, IA, March 17-18, 2009. Hosted by Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety & Health (MRASH) Forums, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, University of Iowa. PowerPoint presentation located at: http://www.agsafetyandhealthnet.org/Presentations.htm
" American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, Reno, NV, June 21-24, 2009. Operating Agricultural Equipment of Public Roads. PowerPoint presentation by Robert Bobby Grisso, Virginia Tech.
" National Institute for Farm Safety Annual Meeting and Professional Development Conference, New Orleans, LA. PowerPoint presentation by Robert Aherin, University of Illinois.


Milestones


Impacts
1. Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads was used as a resource for a legislative task force appointed by Pennsylvania state senator Mike Brubaker (R), Senate District 36, Lancaster, PA, to examine issues related to farm equipment on rural public roads.
2. The NIOSH AgFF Sector Council seeks to identify important research questions, recognize priority safety and health concerns, understand effective intervention strategies, and disseminate information on strategies to improve safety and health workplace practice. Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads is serving as a major resource document for this national committee.
3. An inquiry was made by the ANSI Z15.1 Safe Practices for Fleet Motor Vehicle Operations Committee about possible collaboration on a safety standard to improve the safety of agricultural equipment operating on public roads.
4. The ASABE Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference (AETC) in Orlando January 11, 2010, would like a session on agricultural equipment on public roads. Field said he is investigating having an AgrAbility exhibit there, and if he does, perhaps he could give a presentation


Publications
Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. 2009. Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. USDA-CSREES, Washington DC. February.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Participants

Aherin, Bob (raherin@uiuc.edu), University of Illinois; Baggett, Connie (bbc@psu.edu), The Pennsylvania State University; Barbosa, Roberto (rbarbosa@agcenter.lsu.edu), Louisiana state University); Field, William (field@purdue.edu), Purdue University; Fraser, Scott (scott.fraser@farsha.bc.ca), Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association, British Columbia, CAN; Grisso, Bobby (rgrisso@vt.edu), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Hacault, Marcel (mh@casa-acsa.ca), Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, CAN; Jepsen, Dee (jepsen.4@osu.edu), The Ohio State University; Johnson, Bruce (bruce@farsha.bc.ca), Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association, British Columbia, CAN; Martin, Marshall (marshallmartin@purdue.edu), Purdue University; Morehouse, Emily (emorehouse@nifa.usda.gov), National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Murphy, Dennis (djm13@psu.edu), The Pennsylvania State University; Myers, John (jrmyers@cdc.gov), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; Olsen, Larry (olsenl@msu.edu), Michigan State University; Pate, Michael (michael.pate@usu.edu), Utah State University; Purschwitz, Mark (purschwitz.mark@bae.uky.edu), The University of Kentucky; Rains, Glen, (grains@uga.edu), University of Georgia; Rein, Brad (brein@csrees.usda.gov), National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Schwab, Charles (cvschwab@iastate.edu), Iowa State University; Slocombe, John (slocombe@ksu.edu), Kansas State University; Yoder, Aaron (ayoder@psu.edu), The Pennsylvania State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

USDA-CSREES developed a Shared Faculty position to help promote the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health: National Agenda for Action document. The Shared Faculty positions primary responsibility to CSREES was to provide leadership for developing awareness, refinement, and multi-organizational support for the recently developed national agenda document. The new NCERA 197 committee reviewed the 12 priorities contained in the national agenda document and considered several options for effectively promoting and addressing the 12 priorities.

The committee chose to develop a white paper on Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. This white paper would have multiple purposes: a) to help identify research, policy and extension/outreach priorities for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Transportation, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, state departments of agriculture, transportation and law enforcement, county government, and production agriculture based organizations; and b) to identify possible design and practice standards, goals, or guidelines for farm equipment manufacturers, standard setting organizations, and government agencies.

It was decided on to focus on seven major issues related to agricultural equipment on public roads. These were:
1. Transportation environment  load limits, road deterioration, slow moving vehicles on rural roads, railroad crossings, school bus stops, accidents due to these conflicts.
2. Horse drawn vehicles.
3. High speed tractors  equipment that is being pulled above legal limits with poor tires, no brakes, no anti-swap hitches.
4. Lighting and marking of pulled equipment.
5. Licensing of drivers - lack of CDL licenses for drivers of farm vehicles and their lack of training.
6. Transportation of workers  i.e., Amish workers in chairs in the back of trailers with no restraints anywhere.
7. Rural/urban interface.

For each major section of the White Paper, it was decided that two questions would be asked and addressed: 1) Problems identified by us, and 2) What do we know about these problems? The original seven issues were eventually reorganized and combined into:
1. An Introduction
2. The Rural / Urban Traffic Interface
3. Federal and State Regulations
4. Higher Speed Tractors
5. Transportation of Workers on Public Roadways with Farm Equipment
6. Suggestions for the Future (in the areas of Research, Engineering Standards, Education, Policy)

It was decided that the White Paper should exist only as a .pdf document on websites. Several national and state websites were identified and were approached. In addition, news releases were developed and several organizations were identified through which the White Paper could be presented and promoted.

A second high priority topic chosen to be addressed by NCERA 197 is agricultural confined spaces. Based upon activities related to the development of the original NCERA-197 research and extension agenda, it was determined that there existed significant research gaps with respect to needed engineering, educational, and legislative controls designed to reduce the frequency and severity of confined spaces-related incidents in agricultural workplaces. Based upon available data, much of which is incomplete, over 700 cases of fatal and partial entrapment have been documented over the past 30 years in grain storage and handling facilities and over 100 fatal and non-fatal incidents have been documented in livestock waste handling and storage operations. In addition, fatalities have been documented in other forms of confined spaces including silos, chemical storage tanks, transport vehicles, fermentation tanks and bulk milk tanks. It is estimated that 25-40 confined spaces-related fatalities occur annually in agricultural operations, including off-farm processing and storage sites.

In addition to agricultural confined spaces, the committee identified the next high priority topic from the National Agenda for Action document. It was decided that the topic would be small-scale farmers, including those called lifestyle farmers, new and beginning farmers etc. The areas to be covered by this topic would be priorities 9, 11, and 12 from the Agenda for Action: (9. Capital and management vs. family labor intensive operations; 11. Agricultural safety education and training; and 12. Special populations and enterprises).

Another topic the committee decided to work on in the immediate future was to increase infrastructure support for agricultural safety and health within the land grant system. The first action to be taken was a decision to develop a Community of Practice (CoP) for farm safety. Representatives of eXtension gave a presentation about forming a CoP and grant opportunities to help support a CoP.

Accomplishments

A previous committee, NCR 197, produced the landmark publication in 2003 titled, National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health: National Agenda for Action. This committee established 12 safety and health priorities for action. The national agenda document was produced near the end of the NCR 197 project period. The current committee, NCERA 197, proposed to continue the work of the NCR 197 committee by promoting the national agenda. <br /> <br /> Accomplishments include developing posters and a PowerPoint presentation for use at national and international conferences to publicize and promote the contents of the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health. A pamphlet titled, Investing in the Future, which served as an executive summary of the national agenda document, was also produced. Presentations on the national agenda priorities were made to/at the following groups and events: American Society for Engineering Education Engineering Research Council Conference; American Society of Safety Engineers Annual Conference; Western Region CSREES and NIOSH Agriculture Centers meeting; NASULGC Administrators; and Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Executive Committee. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology include a statement about national agenda in their newsletter.<br /> <br /> The National Agenda was included as background in presentation to proposed U.S. Coalition for Farm Safety; b) A presentation on the national agenda was made to a University of Iowa School of Public health graduate class; c) National agenda priorities were presented to National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) Sector Council as part of overview of agricultural safety and health. NASULGC Administrators sent emails to experiment station directors encouraging agricultural safety and health to be included as a topic at their annual conference<br /> <br /> After further review of the 12 priorities, the NCERA 197 committee selected Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads as a priority topic to be addressed by the committee. The safe operation of agricultural equipment on public roads was included in two new curriculums designed to meet training and certification requirements for the U.S. Department of Labors Agricultural Hazardous Occupations Orders (Ag HOs). Purdue University produced a CD titled Sharing the Road that addresses many of the specific concerns the committee has for operating agricultural equipment on public roads.<br /> <br /> The committee decided to address the agricultural equipment on public roads topic through a White Paper. The topic was divided into seven sections, subcommittee chairs were appointed and additional subcommittee members were recruited. An initial draft of the white paper was presented at a Professional Development Workshop conducted at the June 2008 annual conference of the National Institute for Farm Safety. Feedback and input were gained from approximately 35 workshop participants. Subsequent drafts were developed, reviewed and revised by the NCERA 197 committee and section subcommittees. The final document, Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads, was released to the public as a .pdf document by Penn State University on February 25 and by USDA-CSREES on February 27, 2008. <br /> <br /> The Agricultural Equipment on Public Roadways document has received extensive national exposure on public web sites and through the national and state media. A .pdf of the white paper document is located on the following public web sites:<br /> <br /> " http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/white_papers/pdfs/ag_equipment.pdf <br /> <br /> " http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/<br /> <br /> " http://lgu.umd.edu/lgu_v2/homepages/home.cfm?trackID=6763<br /> <br /> " http://www.nasdonline.org/docs/d001901-d002000/d001906/d001906.html <br /> <br /> " http://www.agsafety.psu.edu/pdfs/Ag%20Equip%20on%20Public%20Roads.pdf <br /> <br /> " http://asae.frymulti.com/azdez.asp?JID=5&AID=26903&CID=reno2009&T=2 <br /> <br /> <br /> National and state news releases included: <br /> <br /> " Penn State Ag Sciences Newswire: Guidance for Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. March 2, 2009<br /> <br /> " USDA-CSREES: CSREES North Central Region Multi-state Committee Releases White Paper on Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. February 26, 2009<br /> <br /> " Iowa State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Experts Seek Improved Farm Equipment Safety on Public Roads. April 23, 2009.<br /> <br /> " NIOSH eNews. Traffic Hazards of Moving Ag Equipment on Rural Roadways. Volume 6, No. 12, April 2009.<br /> <br /> " CropLife News. Experts Seek Improved Ag Equipment Safety On Public Roads. April 28, 2009.<br /> <br /> <br /> Radio Interviews:<br /> <br /> " Chuck Schwab, Iowa State University, 25 minute interview <br /> <br /> Magazines:<br /> <br /> " New USDA report focuses on road way safety. Successful Farming, May-June, 2009. p 57.<br /> <br /> " Federal Guidance Needed for Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. Professional Safety, May, 2009, p. 17.<br /> <br /> <br /> PowerPoint Presentations: <br /> <br /> " Farm Equipment/Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention, Des Moines, IA, March 17-18, 2009. Hosted by Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety & Health (MRASH) Forums, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, University of Iowa. PowerPoint presentation located at: http://www.agsafetyandhealthnet.org/Presentations.htm <br /> <br /> " American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, Reno, NV, June 21-24, 2009. Operating Agricultural Equipment of Public Roads. National Institute for Farm Safety Annual Meeting and Professional Development Conference, New Orleans, LA. <br /> <br /> " ASABE Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference (AETC), Orlando, FL, January 11, 2010. <br /> <br /> <br /> Journals/Editorials:<br /> <br /> " Bringing you up to speed on sharing the road. Carol J. Lehtola, PhD, JASH, 15(4): 309-310. Editorial.<br /> <br /> Committee members selected Agricultural Confined Spaces as the next priority topic the committee should address. This was priority #3 in the National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety & Health. A proposal for a new NCERA 197 project was written and approved by the North Central Administrative Committee.<br /> <br />

Publications

1. Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. 2005. National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health. Pamphlet. USDA-CSREES, Washington DC. May.<br /> <br /> 2. Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. 2006. Investing in the Future. USDA-CSREES, Washington DC. April. <br /> <br /> 3. Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. 2008. Development of a Multistate Research and Extension Plan for Agricultural Safety and Health  USDA CSREES NCR 197. Presented at the National Institute for Farm Safety Annual Conference, Lancaster, PA, June 22-26, (Abstract 13) and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, June 29-July 2, Providence, RI, (Abstract 112-76). Poster.<br /> <br /> 4. Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. 2008. Current Research, Outreach and Standards in Agricultural Safety and Health related to Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. Presented at the National Institute for Farm Safety Annual Conference, Lancaster, PA, June 22-26 (Abstract 14), and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, June 29-July 2, Providence, RI (Abstract 112-77). Poster.<br /> <br /> 5. Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. 2008. Key Issues and Actions to be Addressed Related to Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads - Recommendations from the NCERA 197 Committee. Presented at the National Institute for Farm Safety Annual Conference, Lancaster, PA, June 22-26 (Abstract 15), and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, June 29-July 2, Providence, RI (Abstract 112-78). Poster.<br />

Impact Statements

1. The National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health was presented and accepted as a key resource document to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Healths (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF), Sector Council. The AgFF Sector Council is charged to set research priorities for NIOSH.
2. The National Land Grant Research and Extension Agenda for Agricultural Safety and Health was presented and accepted as a key resource document in the formation of a new non-profit agricultural industry-driven organization named Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA). This new council will advocate priorities, policy and programs to benefit U.S. farmers and ranchers.
3. The National Institute for Farm Safety accepted our proposal to devote the professional development section of their 2008 annual conference to Operating Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads. This is the first time an outside group has been given the opportunity to manage the professional development section of the NIFS annual conference.
4. Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads was used as a resource for a legislative task force appointed by Pennsylvania state senator Mike Brubaker (R), Senate District 36, Lancaster, PA, to examine issues related to farm equipment on rural public roads.
5. The NIOSH AgFF Sector Council seeks to identify important research questions, recognize priority safety and health concerns, understand effective intervention strategies, and disseminate information on strategies to improve safety and health workplace practice. Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads is serving as a major resource document for this national committee.
6. Agricultural Equipment on Public Roads was the inspiration for the Farm Equipment/Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention conference held in Des Moines, IA, March 17-18, 2009. The conference was hosted by the Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety & Health (MRASH) Forums, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, University of Iowa. Fifty-four conference participants representing 13 states participated. Groups from nine states drafted state plans for addressing agricultural equipment on public road issues.
7. The theme for 2009 National Farm Safety and Health Week was Rural Roadway Safety: Alert, Aware, Alive. This is a national awareness campaign.
8. An inquiry was made by the ANSI Z15.1 Safe Practices for Fleet Motor Vehicle Operations Committee about possible collaboration on a safety standard to improve the safety of agricultural equipment operating on public roads.
9. An interactive online safety training course titled Road Safety: Sharing the Road with Agricultural Equipment has been placed on the National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD) web site by member Dr. Carol Lehtola.

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Report Information

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Please see attached file for 9/8/2010 conference call minutes.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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