Effectiveness of Utilizing an Evidence Based Safety Curriculum to Increase Student Knowledge

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Safety and Health
• Occupational Safety for Youth
• Educational Program Evaluation

Background:

• Secondary students, particularly those aged 14-15, are often involved in agricultural work with inherent risks.
• Existing safety training programs require effective delivery methods to maximize student knowledge and awareness.
• The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operations Program (NSTMOP) provides foundational safety materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based "Train the Trainer" approach in enhancing agricultural safety knowledge among secondary students.
• To assess the impact of NSTMOP-based training on student understanding of tractor and machinery safety.

Main Methods:

• Teachers participated in a 10-hour inquiry-based workshop using NSTMOP materials on tractor safety, risk assessment, and protective structures.
• Trained teachers integrated safety lessons into their existing curricula.
• Student safety knowledge was measured using pre- and post-tests, with data analyzed using the Wilcoxon Sign-Rank test.

Main Results:

• A total of 118 students completed both pre- and post-tests; the majority were male and ninth graders.
• Student post-test scores were statistically significantly higher than pre-test scores (Z = -5.22, p < .001).
• The training approach effectively increased students' safety knowledge and awareness.

Conclusions:

• The "Train the Trainer" model is effective for improving agricultural safety education in secondary schools.
• Findings suggest a need to re-evaluate the Fair Labor Standards Act exemption for 14- and 15-year-olds in agriculture.
• Recommendations include increasing age restrictions for hazardous agricultural occupations and enhancing teacher preparation with practical safety experiences.