Influences on Farm Safety Practice in Eastern Washington

SUMMARY Social and behavioral scientists have been challenged to discover factors that contribute to hazardous conditions on the farm. In the current study, the relationships between personal and significant others' attitudes concerning safety, perceptions of behavioral control, stress, habit or repetitive farming practice, and frequency of engaging in safety precautions were investigated. One hundred ninety-nine male and female farmers completed study questionnaires prior to participating in stress reduction workshops held throughout Eastern Washington during 1994-95. Results indicated that safety behaviors were influenced by different variables for respondents who had a prior history of minor injuries on the farm than for those individuals who had experienced major injuries. Methodological concerns and recommendations for future research and intervention strategies are discussed.