Safety program set to continue
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has helped obtain funding to continue a safety program designed to prevent deaths from tractor rollover accidents, a news release said.
In New York alone, 12 people have died in farm accidents each of the past two years, with tractors playing a role in twice as many fatalities as other type of machinery.
Schumer has pushed for extension of a rebate program, slated to expire in September, which covers 70 percent of the cost of rollover protection structures (ROPS). These rollbars typically cost about $1,200, so farms would instead only have to pay $500.
“Keeping family farmers and farm workers who op- erate dangerous machinery safe must be a major priority, especially in upstate New York, where the agricultural community is our lifeblood,” Schumer said.
In June, Town of Galway Supervisor Paul Lent died when his tractor overturned and pinned him underneath while he was performing agricultural work on his property.
Lent was honored during Saratoga County Fair opening ceremonies Tuesday.
He was a long-time fair exhibitor and superintendent of its Draft Horse Department. All of this week’s horse shows will be held in his honor.
More than 1,500 tractors in New York alone have been retrofitted with rollover structures since the rebate program’s inception in 2006. Funding comes from the Centers for Disease Control and is facilitated by the Northeast Center for Occu- pational Safety and Health for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
In New York, such efforts are led by the Cooperstownbased New York Center for Agricultural Medical and Health.
“This is a proven life saving program,” said John Vanderwerken, the center’s agricultural safety educator. “Without support like Senator Schumer’s we would not be able to continue it, not only for New York farmers, but all farmers across the United States.”
The rebate program covers the cost of a rollbar, seatbelt, shipping and professional installation.
Vanderwerken offered several other tips for preventing tractor-related accidents. First, avoid unsafe terrain such as side hills.
“And always be alert and not distracted while operating the tractor,” he said. “Also, adhere to all safety suggestions in the owner’s manual and be familiar with the manual.”
In addition to grant funding, the rebate program includes a hot line (1-877-7677748) farmers may call for help finding the best ROPS equipment for their specific tractor.
Rebate funding is currently available in New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. However, the National Tractor Safety Coalition is working to ensure funding across the U.S.
New York Farm Bureau applauded Schumer’s efforts at securing funding to ensure the rebate program’s continuation.
“This is wonderful news because this funding saves lives,” spokesman Steve Ammerman said. “New York Farm Bureau has been successful in helping to ad- vocate for increased funding from New York state and Senator Schumer’s efforts are much appreciated at the federal level because the funding was in jeopardy of being cut. There are still many older tractors on farms across the state, and the ability to make them safer has undoubtedly saved lives and reduced injuries for farmers and their employees.”