Posted on 05/29/2018 9:00:23 PM PDT by mdittmar
The Federally-Funded Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (NEC) Provides Farmers With Important Resources, Like Special 1-800 Safety Number, Access To Farm-Safety Experts And Information On Next-Gen Farm Safety Equipment Like Tractor Rollover Bars
NEC’s Research Led To National ROPS – Rollover Bar – Rebate Program, But Senator Says Lack Of Available Grants Puts ROPS Program At Risk
Schumer: Any Lapse In Federal Funding For This Critical Program Could Put Upstate New York’s Farmers’ And Farm Workers’ Safety At Risk
Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer called on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to administratively fund the work being done at the Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry And Fishing (NEC) on the National tractor rollover protection systems (ROPS) rebate program. Schumer said ROPS is a vital program, especially considering that farm-related deaths are up to 800 percent higher than many other major industries, with tractor overturns being their most frequent cause at a rate of 96 cases per year.
“ ROPS is a critical and cost-effective rebate program that provides important information to farmers across the country on how to find and install the right rollover bar for their machinery. It is imperative that the CDC does everything possible to fund this program to help ensure that farmers and growers have every tool possible to stay safe and succeed,” said Senator Schumer.
The ROPS program facilitates rebates in states with state-based funding to farmers to cover approximately 70 percent of the cost for a farmer to install a ROPS roll bar retrofit kit on their tractor. According to Schumer, the original grant funding for this important program is slated to expire in September, and the CDC has discontinued the funding mechanism to allow for the continued federal investment in this program.
“Keeping family farmers and farm workers who operate dangerous machinery safe must be a major priority. That is why I am the urging the CDC to restore funding for this critical farm safety program and the subsequent research,” Schumer added. “The work done by organizations like the NEC is exactly the type of work the federal government should be investing in: it’s cost-effective, informed by real industry experts, and helps save farmers’ lives every day. By slashing available funding to this life-saving organization, we jeopardize successful programs that are providing critical resources to farmers, like a 1-800 safety hot-line number and on the ground experts in rural communities, so farmers can access the ROPS Rebate Program, which helps farmers correctly install rollover bars on their tractors just in case the tractor flips over. We need to do everything possible to make sure we are investing in developing new safety solutions for our farmers and growers. and I will be doing everything possible to make sure this program, which puts farmers first, is protected.”
According to NEC Director, Dr. Julie Sorensen, the program has also been considerably cost-effective with recent economic assessments pointing to a $5 million savings in NY State due to deaths and injuries averted through the program. As stated by Sorensen, “Senator Schumer’s support for the ROPS program and dedication to the farming community is so essential to ensuring the sustainability of one of our state’s most crucial industries.”
Schumer said the agricultural community is the lifeblood of Upstate New York, and that protecting the well-being and safety of farmers must be a major priority. In response to the hazardous environment of working on a farm, the Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing launched an effort to create the life-saving ROPS Rebate Program, which covers approximately 70 percent of the cost for a farmer to install a ROPS rollbar kit on their tractor. In most cases, this means farmers only pay $500 or less for this life-saving equipment that can otherwise cost up to $1,200. NEC also provides information to farmers throughout the country on how to find and install the right rollover bar. Since its inception in 2006, the NEC reports that more than 2,150 tractors have been retrofitted with protective structures in seven states, with more than 1,500 of those retrofits occurring in New York State alone. Farmers throughout the country benefit from the hotline and administrative support that is provided through CDC funding. Furthermore, Schumer said, participants in New York reported 221 close calls and 19 serious incidents in which death or injury was likely without the protective ROPS structures. However, all of this critical outreach and infrastructure surrounding the ROPS program could come to an end if the CDC allows the federal funding for the ROPS program to come to a halt. Schumer said that this program is vital to farmers and growers, and that he will do everything possible to ensure that the CDC administratively funds the program so that the inroads the ROPS program has made can continue.
A copy of the Senator’s letter appears below:
Dear Director Redfield, MD:
I write to bring attention to a problem which continues to threaten the lives of farmers and growers in Upstate New York and nationwide. As you know, farm-related deaths are 800 percent higher than many other industries, with tractor overturns being the most frequent cause of deaths on farms, at a rate of 96 cases per year. I commend and appreciate the great work being done at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to invest in tractor rollover protection systems (ROPS) and the continued safety of our farmers. However, it has come to my attention that the federal funding for the ROPS program through NIOSH is in jeopardy of coming to an end in September. Therefore, I urge you to work with the Northeast Regional Center in Cooperstown, New York, as well as other NIOSH Centers across the country, in order to administratively fund this important work that saves almost 100 lives a year across the country.
As you know, our agricultural community is the lifeblood of rural America, and protecting the well-being and safety of our farmers must be a majority priority. In response to the hazardous environment of working on a farm, the Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (NEC) launched an effort to create the life-saving ROPS Rebate Program, which covers approximately 70% of the cost for a farmer to install a ROPS rollbar kit on their tractor. In most cases, this means farmers only pay $500 or less for this life-saving equipment that can otherwise cost up to $1,200. NEC also provides information to farmers on how to find and install the right rollover bar. Since its inception in 2006, the NEC reports that more than 2,150 tractors have been retrofitted with protective structures in seven states, with more than 1,500 of those retrofits occurring in New York State alone. However, all of this critical outreach and infrastructure surrounding the ROPS program could come to an end if federal funding comes to a halt. This is why I urge you to administratively provide funding to the ROPS program, so that the important inroads the ROPS program has made can continue.
During these challenging times for our agricultural communities, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to ensure that our farmers and growers have every tool available to succeed. In New York State alone, the ROPS program has been extremely effective in preventing tractor rollover deaths and injuries to our farmers and growers. Feedback from the agricultural community has been extremely positive, with participants in New York reporting 221 close calls and 19 serious incidents in which death or injury was likely without protective structures. This kind of success should be touted and continued, which is why I urge you to ensure that you continue to fund the great work done by the NEC and ROPS as soon as possible.
I understand that in the current fiscal climate resources are constrained, and as always, I vow to stand with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) throughout the budget process. However, based on the critical importance of protecting the health and safety of our agricultural workers, I ask that you ensure that federal funding continues to flow to the ROPS program past September. I look forward to working with you on this important request
We need the Federal Government to say,don't rollover that tractor.
Wow! I had no idea that tractor roll-overs were a disease.
It’s a govt make-work program. There are thousands of these littering the pages of the Fed budget, all needing killing.
Chuck U wouldn’t know a tractor if one rolled over his foot.
Tax and spend Chuch Schemer is digging deep.
I’ve seen some dummies screw up a lot of equipment,I didn’t hire them.
Like Schumer cares about farms.
NY is working double time to shutdown farms all while saying NY is “proud” of its farms.
IF they could only figure out a way to tax rollovers, would they sell them in gas stations next to cigarettes and booze?
I thought that rolling over a tractor was crazy until I moved from northern Illinois to Kentucky. I’m not sure that you CAN actually roll over a tractor in Northern IL. The farmland here is hilly and the topsoil much thinner. KY loses quite a few farmers a year in rollovers.
“KY loses quite a few farmers a year in rollovers.”
Well of course they do. This great safety program only covers the Northeast. Kentucky needs to elect better congress-critters to get these sort of programs going.
(I had a buddy that almost was killed when he rolled his bulldozer. Of course he had a cage - but obviously missing a 5-point harness and/or bubblewrap.)
rollovers are because of bad drivers.
Boys learn in FFA, but the dimocrats have cut every sensible program to build tranny bathrooms, there's no program to teach a kid how NOT to roll a tractor 'cause there ain't no tractors .... they're too dangerous.
Play with dolls, kid.
Bet he wants it extended to “lawn tractors”.
Used a riding mower with bad brakes and ended nose down in a creek. Unhurt but for my pride.
The honorable reprobate says millions of dollars of fedzilla money must be spent to save farmers from their equipment.
He’s a 68-year old man, who has been in Congress for 37 years. Routinely re-elected with around 60% of the vote. He must be a genius.
It will only take millions of tax dollars for the “Northeast Center For Occupational Safety And Health For Agriculture, Forestry And Fishing” (”NCFOSAHFAFAF”?) to fund the “National Tractor Rollover Protection Systems Rebate Program” (”NTRPSRP”?).
From and For the Agricultural Engineer of New York. “Nice tractor you’ve got there. Be a shame if anything happened to it...”
We are out of control, but we’re in control, They just don’t want us to know that.
I’m sorry for the 96 tractor drivers who we’ve lost. And their families.
Pro tip: don’t drive the tractor drunk.
And Chuckie will continue to win 60% of the vote because he cares. Just not about you.
To survive a tractor rollover you have to roll it over in bs/ I mean a Democrat.
LOLOL.....is that all he’s got!
Rollover prevention on... tractors! Anti-skid wheels are next in Schumki regulations trove for the peasants.
Isn’t Trump’s administration supposed to slash stupid (for lack of better word) regulations?
Its for the rebate program to buy votes for farmers who dont sound like they are not very good at it. In other words, taxpayer money for uber leftists and already heavily subsidized farmers. Taxpayer cash for votes.
Yes, it is an urgent matter before midterms. The souls in flyover country are for sale, but the price keeps going up.
I always questioned why iowa should get unconstitutional voting privileges. Until i heard how insanely left they are.
If Shuemer’s constituents cannot drive a tractor without rolling it over, it shouldn’t be a problem for the people of Iowa, who have NO PROBLEM keeping tractors right side up.
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