Review of Intervention Research - Agriculture Forestry and Fishing Research at NIOSH - page 104

Appropriateness of Resource Allocations
It is difficult to find a coherent theme in some of the projects that have been
funded over the period examined. Historically, some Ag Centers seem to have taken
on a large number of varied projects that do not necessarily represent a subject of
focus. The most recent request for applications for Ag Centers is structured in such
a way as to ensure that center programs have a focus or theme, that intervention
projects are fully developed, and that process and outcome measures are included.
Furthermore, the requirement that at least 20 percent of Ag Center direct costs be
devoted to prevention and intervention research ensures a substantial commitment
to this kind of research in the future.
Planned Program of Transfer Activities
There is not a single, coherent, AFF Program-wide plan for intervention research
transfer. Plans for transfer activities may be included in individual projects, and in
some cases the projects themselves may focus entirely on transfer activities, but there
is no unified strategy for transfer of AFF Program intervention research.
OUTPUTS
The major outputs from intervention research activities are publications, re-
ports, conferences, databases, engineering designs, guidelines, recommendations,
education and training materials, scientific manuscripts, and product dissemina-
tion. Intervention research outputs addressed a variety of outcomes, including such
high-priority subjects as tractor-related, fishing, and logging fatalities. In addition,
many outputs were developed to reduce injury and illness related to tractors and
equipment, livestock, musculoskeletal disorders, and pesticide exposure.
High-Priority Subjects
Tractor-Related Injury Intervention Research
This research has produced numerous outputs aimed at reducing tractor-
related fatalities through the Community Partners for Healthy Farming Inter-
vention. It supported the Kentucky ROPS project, which produced a notebook
“toolkit” for promoting ROPS-equipped tractors (Ehlers and Palermo, 2005). The
project led to more than 10 peer-reviewed publications and electronic and paper
versions of training materials in different languages. Several Ag Centers have also
focused intervention research efforts in tractor-related injury.