—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dec. 18, 1976
18
(Continued from Page 1)
12-month survey went into great detail in
attempting to pinpoint causes and types of
accidents on the farm, and is expected to be
of signifciant value to insurance companies,
equipment manufacturers, construction
engineers, legislators, and OSHA per
sonnel. _ B
Lancaster County Agent Jay Irwin, who
compiled survey results for the program in
Lancaster County, pointed out that every
township in each of the 13 surveyed counties
was covered systematically in order to
come up with a representative picture. In
each case, the ladies of PFA volunteered to
do the leg work. Pointing to highly detailed
sheets of information, Irwin commented
that the project required considerable time
and effort. He openly praised participants
for their contributions.
Results of the various surveys are now
flowing into computers at Penn State and
conclusions should be forthcoming within
the next two months.
Irwin explained that farm families were
chosen at random to participate, and both
those being interviewed as well as those
asking the questions, did so on their own
volition. Once the pattern of the survey was
established, the participating farm families
were visited quarterly to report on any of
the accidents or illnesses which might have
occurred during the previous three months.
Every township in the county was can
vassed. All interviewers were given proper
instructions beforehand.
Similar surveys have been taken
elsewhere across the country, with
Maryland having completed its project a
year ago, and Delaware just getting into one
of its own this month.
Some interesting -results of the first
Safety
survey
quarter survey in Lancaster County are as
follows
Out of a total of 17 reported accidents,
seven occurred while performing routine
chores. As might be expected, it was the
fathers and their sons who were involved
most of the time while wives and daughters
combined accounted for only about a
-quarter of the incidents. The fathers outdid
the boys by a score of 12 to five, counting the
six reported illnesses.
It’s also revealed in the survey, that when
an accident occurs, it happens in a powerful
enough way to require professional at
tention. That was the case in 12 of the 17
accidents reported between December 1975
and February 1976.
Aside from routine chores, building and
machinery maintenance rated higher than
average in their contributions to accidents.
Animals caused four of the injuries.
A breakdown of the 210 families surveyed
in Lancaster County shows that the average
member of these families had spent 36.8
years on the farm. All types of farming
operations were 'represented, with dairy
farms outnumbering all the rest combined.
Irwin commented that no stone was left
unturned in these surveys, and backed the
statement up by pulling out one form after
another. Every piece of equipment was
recorded, the person’s attitude was taken
into consideration, and such specific items
as wind direction, age of machinery and
illness symptoms were marked down.
Interviewers were given a general report
form which filled two 8 by 11 sheets of paper
on both sides. Then there were also sup
plemental sheets to go into further detail on
specific accidents or illnesses. In each case,
.that involved at least one more sheet of
paper to fill out. The PFA volunteers ac-
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Most accidents on farms occur
while performing routine chores, a
recently completed survey reveals.
cepted their duties and performed their
work conscientiously, Irwin indicated.
The purpose behind this study is obvious:
to reduce accidents, save lives, and bring
injuries to a minimum. Irwin expressed
considerable confidence that insurance
companies would pick up the completed
survey for evaluation. Machinery
manufacturers are likely to take a close look
and Irwin noted that one internationally
known Lancaster County firm has already
expressed deep interest in the project. The
result, it is hoped, will be safer equipment.
CFTC establishes ‘hot line’
WASHINGTON - A
“Consumer Hot Line” (800-
424-9838) and a list of twelve
guideline questions designed
to help consumers get useful
information from telephone
salesmen offering com-
ca
Quonset.
The accident above was caused by lug
bolts not being tightened sufficiently
on one of the rear wheels.
A final aim of the survey is to make ac
curate information available to government
agendas and legislators who hold the power
to make and enforce safety regulations. The
general consensus among fanners is that
bureaucrats too often don’t know enough
about fanning and accidents to pass truly
beneficial legislation, even though their
intent might have been perfectly good.
Surveys such as the one recently com
pleted in Lancaster County and 12 other
Pennsylvania counties are expected to
provide the basis for more realistic safety
regulations.
modity options were an
nounced recently by the
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission.
The Commission said
millions of dollars have been
lost, and warned consumers
to “thoroughly check out”
and “shop around” if they
get a phone call suggesting
fantastic profits through
quick options purchases.
The CFTC also pointed out
that it was not saying “don’t
buy”, but stressed the need
to protect the customer and
the reputable firms in the
business by encouraging the
proper information be ob
tained and impulse pur
chases be avoided.
Charolais gets Brown
HOUSTON, Tex. - W.
Robert Brown, coach of the
1976 Texas A&M University
meat animal evaluation
team, will assume duties as
director of junior activities
for American-International
Charolais Assn, on Jan. 1.
Brown will complete his
requirements for a Master of
Science degree at A&M in
December. Basic studies
toward that degree were
* ** ~~
The consumer alert came
on the eve of the effective
date for tough new CFTC
regulations controlling U.S.
sales of options on com
modities such as sugar,
coffee, cocoa, gold, silver,
copper and platinum.
“Thousands of consumers
- farmers, businesmep,
housewives, senior citizens -
are getting unsolicited phone
calls from boiler-room sales
operators,” said CFTC
Chairman William T.
Bagley. “Fast talking pitch
men with little experience in
the options business read
mimeographed statements'
and use high pressure
techniques.
research of factors in
fluencing the weaning
weights in a Charolais herd.
He received his bachelor of
science degree with a major
in animal production from
A&M m 1974.
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