TY - GEN
T1 - Cost Analysis of a PTO Driveline Shielding Program
T2 - Are Effective Programs Cost-Effective?
AU - Tinc, Pamela J.
AU - Sorensen, Julie A.
AU - Jenkins, Paul L.
AU - Kelsey, Timothy
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the farmers who participated in PTO research studies conducted by the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety. We would also like to thank the safety specialists at the center who provided much of the training and support for PTO driveline outreach efforts. All authors participated in the conception or design of this work, as well as the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the research data. Coauthor PT gathered training program budget data, calculated program costs, provided support for the economic analysis, and drafted the introductory section of the manuscript. Authors PJ and JS offered guidance on protocols for calculating program costs, assisted with the economic analysis, and drafted the Methods and Results sections. Author JS also drafted the Discussion and Limitations sections. Author TK led the economic analysis and drafted several specific components of the Methods and Results sections. All authors reviewed the final draft and provided final approval of the manuscript. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. This work was performed at the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, Bassett Healthcare Network Research Institute, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 USA.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 ASABE.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - PTO entanglements are a primary injury concern on U.S. farms, affecting adults and children. These events often lead to severe injury and permanent disability but can be prevented with proper use of PTO shielding. A promising strategy for increasing PTO shielding on farms has been the introduction of user-friendly shielding options by qualified safety specialists. This study looks at the cost-effectiveness of this approach. The cost-effectiveness of this PTO shielding strategy was calculated based on program-related costs, the PTO shield cost, the lifespan of PTO shields, and the number of PTO shields needed to prevent an entanglement. The cost per entanglement prevented was then calculated by dividing the total costs by the number of entanglements prevented in several costestimate scenarios. Costs were adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars. Costs per entanglement prevented ranged from a low of $921, 544 (assuming a 10-year PTO lifespan and using 12, 487 as the number needed to treat, i.e., to prevent a PTO entanglement, referred to as the NNT) to a high of $18, 583, 492 (assuming a three-year PTO lifespan and 67, 119 as the NNT). The cost per entanglement prevented at the median PTO lifespan of five years and median NNT of 39, 802 was $6, 612, 244. Based on our estimates, the cost-efficacy of increasing PTO shielding using qualified safety specialists differs widely based on the shield lifespan and the number of shields needed to avoid one entanglement. However, if the cost of introducing PTO shields in on-farm visits is coupled with other on-farm services that defray these costs, then the cost-efficacy increases considerably.
AB - PTO entanglements are a primary injury concern on U.S. farms, affecting adults and children. These events often lead to severe injury and permanent disability but can be prevented with proper use of PTO shielding. A promising strategy for increasing PTO shielding on farms has been the introduction of user-friendly shielding options by qualified safety specialists. This study looks at the cost-effectiveness of this approach. The cost-effectiveness of this PTO shielding strategy was calculated based on program-related costs, the PTO shield cost, the lifespan of PTO shields, and the number of PTO shields needed to prevent an entanglement. The cost per entanglement prevented was then calculated by dividing the total costs by the number of entanglements prevented in several costestimate scenarios. Costs were adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars. Costs per entanglement prevented ranged from a low of $921, 544 (assuming a 10-year PTO lifespan and using 12, 487 as the number needed to treat, i.e., to prevent a PTO entanglement, referred to as the NNT) to a high of $18, 583, 492 (assuming a three-year PTO lifespan and 67, 119 as the NNT). The cost per entanglement prevented at the median PTO lifespan of five years and median NNT of 39, 802 was $6, 612, 244. Based on our estimates, the cost-efficacy of increasing PTO shielding using qualified safety specialists differs widely based on the shield lifespan and the number of shields needed to avoid one entanglement. However, if the cost of introducing PTO shields in on-farm visits is coupled with other on-farm services that defray these costs, then the cost-efficacy increases considerably.
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U2 - 10.13031/jash.14575
DO - 10.13031/jash.14575
M3 - Article
C2 - 34729973
AN - SCOPUS:85121506645
SN - 1074-7583
VL - 27
SP - 205
EP - 214
JO - Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
JF - Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
ER -
