Narrative text analysis of Kentucky tractor fatality reports

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Narrative information in fatality investigation reports contains data elements not routinely analyzed with coded occupational injury surveillance data. A narrative text analysis of 69 Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) agricultural tractor fatality reports from 1994 to 2004 was performed. The FACE reports were developed using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research-recommended FACE report format that incorporates Haddon's matrix. Haddon's matrix separates the fatal incident into three event phases and is used to develop points of intervention based on human, organizational, and environmental factors. A multivariate logistic regression analysis for association between identified exposure variables and the outcomes of interest was undertaken. The operation of a tractor with an attached bucket, muddy terrain, and being thrown from the tractor were independent risk factors for being declared "dead at the scene". A tractor rollover and operation of a tractor on a slope were independent risk factors for being "crushed" by a tractor. Narrative text analysis of FACE fatality investigation reports is a valuable tool for the identification of additional factors contributing to tractor fatalities that can inform farm safety training, identify new areas for agricultural interventions, and support the development of new agricultural engineering strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)419-425
Number of pages7
JournalAccident Analysis and Prevention
Volume40
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement No. 5U60OH008483-03 from NIOSH. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.

Keywords

  • Fatality reports
  • Narrative
  • Overturn
  • Text analysis
  • Tractor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human Factors and Ergonomics
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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