Tractor Operators’ Perceptions of Farm Tractor Safety Issues and Implications to Agricultural and Extension Education

Historically, the purpose of farm safety and health educational materials and programs has been to persuade, convince or educate farmers, members of their families, and hired employees to voluntarily engage in safe behavior during farm or nonfarm work activities (Murphy, 1992). Increasingly, authors have noted that traditional farm safety educational programs have been relatively ineffective (Aherin, Murphy, Westaby, 1992). According to Elkind (1993) assumptions that attitudes and behavior change can be accomplished through providing information is rather simplistic and perhaps invalid. Elkind ( 1993) found that among farmers who believed farming was the most hazardous occupation, approximately 90 percent of them would not discourage their children from farming. The generalized knowledge of hazards does not seem to translate into personal concern, on the part of farmers, for their own individual well being.