Abstract
This study was one of a cluster of studies that originated via requests for proposals from the NIOSH National Agricultural Tractor Safety Initiative. The present study design consisted of several steps: (1) formation of an advisory group, (2) development and testing of a standard paper self-responding survey instrument, (3) sample selection of farm equipment dealers, (4) administration of the survey, (5) assessment and analysis of the survey, and (6) in-person response panel of dealers (n = 80) to review results of the questionnaire for further definition and sharpening of the recommendations from the survey. A key finding is that most dealers do not currently sell or install ROPS retrofit kits. Barriers cited by dealers included (1) actual or perceived lack of farmer demand, (2) injury liability, (3) expensive freight for ordering ROPS, (4) lack of dealer awareness of the magnitude of deaths from tractor overturns and the high life-protective factor of ROPS, and (5) difficulty and incursion of non-recoverable expenses in locating and obtaining specific ROPS. Despite not currently selling or installing ROPS, dealers responded favorably about their future potential role in ROPS promotion and sales. Dealers were willing to further promote, sell, and install ROPS if there was demand from farmers. Recommendations include establishing a ROPS “clearing house” that dealers could contact to facilitate locating and obtaining ROPS orders from customers. Additional recommendations include education and social marketing targeting farm machinery dealers as well farmers, manufacturers, and policy makers.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.28890
Funding Information
This study was supported by NIOSH (Grant No. R25 0H008542).
Repository Citation
Tonelli, Shalome M.; Donham, Kelley J.; Leedom-Larson, Kerry; Sanderson, Wayne; and Purschwitz, Mark A., "Retrofitting Tractors with Rollover Protective Structures: Perspective of Equipment Dealers" (2009). Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications. 135.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/bae_facpub/135
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, v. 15, issue 4, p. 365-375.
© 2009 ASABE
The copyright holder has granted the permission for posting the article here.