ATV safety design features: Examining cultural awareness and piloting an educational program among U.S. young adults in agriculture
Jenna Gibbs, MPH PhD, Director of Operations, Ag Health and Safety Alliance; Carolyn Sheridan and David Sullivan, Ag Health and Safety Alliance; Aaron Yoder, Centeral States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, UNMC.
jennagibbs@aghealthandsafety.com
Jenna Gibbs (MPH, PhD) is the current Director of Operations for the Ag Health and Safety Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides educational programs for the next generation of agriculture. Her goal is for young adults in agriculture to consider some of these ATV Safety features when purchasing their first ATV or ATV-related accessories after graduation.
Learning objectives:
1. Participants will understand how the NIOSH hierarchy of controls can be applied to ATV Safety Training, and how engineering controls are an important component of such a program. 2. Participants will be able to list and describe 8 ATV engineering controls that may be considered at point of purchase. 3. Participants will gain knowledge with regards to young adult’s knowledge and awareness of ATV safety controls and how to engage with young adults about this topic.
Previous survey results from >800 Midwestern young adults in agriculture show that 56% have rolled an ATV, yet 76% report allowing extra riders and only 18% report wearing helmets when operating the device. Evaluation results from our previous programs indicated only small changes in behavior with regards to allowance of extra riders and helmet-use following the program. We developed a new ATV safety curriculum focused initially on engineering controls and safety features that can be highlighted at the point of purchase. This included a motion graphic to highlight engineering controls such as crush protection and other safety design features. The new program was delivered to 276 young adult participants in the U.S. in 2020-21. Participants were asked about awareness of specific ATV engineering features in a pre-survey. Higher proportions reported they were aware of windshields (78%), roll cages (69%), and safety flags (55%). Lower proportions were aware of dual wheel systems (35%), 55-inch-wide frames (26%), crush protection devices (21%), stability ratings (19%), GPS rollover alarms (17%), and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Approved Accessories (16%). Participants were asked if they would consider using any of the engineering controls that were discussed. Although many stated that they were “somewhat likely” to consider more engineering controls, the safety features they mentioned in a feedback section included windshields, roll bars, and OEM approved accessories.