Hard D L, Myers J R
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
J Agric Saf Health. 2011 Apr;17(2):157-72. doi: 10.13031/2013.36499.
This research compares state-level rollover protective structure (ROPS) prevalence rates from the early and mid-1990s to those observed in the years 2001 and 2004. In addition, state-level ROPS prevalence rates are compared to state-level tractor overturn fatality rates. Tractor data for 1993-1995 and for 2001 and 2004 for all tractors and ROPS-equipped tractors in use on U.S. farms were derived from surveys conducted for NIOSH by the USDA-NASS. Changes in ROPS prevalence rates at the state level between the two time periods were assessed using a two-sample paired t-test with unequal sample sizes. Poisson regression was used to assess the association between ROPS prevalence rates and tractor overturn fatality rates at the state level. Overall, 49 of the 50 states had an observed increase in the percentage of farm tractors equipped with ROPS from 1993-1995 to 2001 and 2004. This increase was statistically significant for 34 states. Large shifts in ROPS prevalence were found within individual states and in clusters of states. These include a major increase in the southeastern U.S. and some western states. However, a core of states in the northeast (many of them in or near the Appalachian Mountains) through the upper midwest remain in the bottom quartile for ROPS prevalence. For the years 1992 through 2004, the highest fatality rates were observed in many of the same states that were identified previously as having persistently low ROPS prevalence rates. There is a clear relationship between low state-level ROPS prevalence rates and high state-specific tractor overturn fatality rates. While progress has been made in increasing the percentage of ROPS-equipped farm tractors, it is projected that ROPS prevalence rates will not reach a protective level nationally until after 2015. Regionally, the northeast and midwest will not reach protective levels of ROPS-equipped tractors until after 2020. Based on the adoption rates observed, tractor overturn rates will likely continue to be a more localized, but significant, public health issue for several states beyond the year 2020. The results of this study show the geographic areas of the U.S. where the greatest need exists, and where a greater emphasis should be placed on ROPS promotion activities. However, addressing this public health issue on a large scale will require resources and an organized commitment, which have historically been lacking.
本研究比较了20世纪90年代初和中期各州翻车保护结构（ROPS）的普及率与2001年和2004年观察到的普及率。此外，还将各州ROPS普及率与各州拖拉机翻车死亡率进行了比较。1993 - 1995年以及2001年和2004年美国农场使用的所有拖拉机和配备ROPS的拖拉机的数据，源自美国农业部国家农业统计局为美国国家职业安全与健康研究所进行的调查。使用不等样本量的双样本配对t检验评估两个时间段之间各州ROPS普及率的变化。泊松回归用于评估各州ROPS普及率与拖拉机翻车死亡率之间的关联。总体而言，50个州中有49个州观察到，从1993 - 1995年到2001年和2004年，配备ROPS的农用拖拉机百分比有所增加。其中34个州的这一增长具有统计学意义。在各个州以及州集群中发现了ROPS普及率的大幅变化。这些变化包括美国东南部和一些西部州的大幅增加。然而，从东北部（其中许多位于阿巴拉契亚山脉或其附近）到中西部上游的一些州，ROPS普及率仍处于最低的四分之一水平。在1992年至2004年期间，许多之前被确定为ROPS普及率持续较低的州，其死亡率最高。各州ROPS普及率低与各州特定的拖拉机翻车死亡率高之间存在明显的关系。虽然在提高配备ROPS的农用拖拉机百分比方面已经取得了进展，但预计直到2015年之后，ROPS普及率才会在全国范围内达到保护水平。在区域层面，东北部和中西部直到2020年之后才会达到配备ROPS拖拉机的保护水平。根据观察到的采用率，到2020年之后的几年里，拖拉机翻车率可能仍将是几个州更为局部但很重要的公共卫生问题。本研究结果显示了美国最需要的地理区域，以及应更加强调ROPS推广活动的区域。然而，大规模解决这个公共卫生问题需要资源和有组织的投入，而这在历史上一直是缺乏的。
