The Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center (CARERC) and the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention (SCAHIP) were well represented at the most recent International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health (ISASH) conference held in Tampa, Florida, from June 18 through June 21, 2023.  This annual conference brings together national and global leaders from academia, business, government, and communities interested in preventing agricultural injuries and illnesses. On June 19th, CARERC and SCAHIP team members coordinated the workshop, A Continuing Tragedy – Roadway Crashes with Slow Moving Vehicles.  

Dr. Wayne Sanderson leading the workshop, A Continuing Tragedy - Roadway Crashes with Slow Moving Vehicles

The purpose of the workshop was to discuss and foster the development of innovative intervention proposals designed to reduce roadway crashes involving farm equipment.  Dr. Wayne Sanderson, Director of CARERC and SCAHIP, led the workshop that included 36 attendees with international representation. He gave the first presentation that included an overview of the workshop as well as key statistics on roadway crashes with farm equipment with an emphasis on Kentucky data and prevention efforts. 

Drs. Serap Gorucu and Madison Moore from the University of Florida provided data on Florida roadway crashes involving farm vehicles, farm labor transportation and logging trucks. Dr. Scott Barrett from Virginia Tech presented on preliminary pilot results on the evaluation of log truck driver monitoring systems designed to mitigate contributing factors of crashes.   Describing the latest in innovative app technology, Dr. Chad Niman from CARERC and SCAHIP conducted a demonstration of a mobile app for loggers to use that will aid in emergency planning at the job site. 

Dr. Chad Niman displayed a screen from the Pilot "Logger Safe App" mobile app during the workshop.

Dale Dobson with the Kentucky Department for Agriculture led a discussion on how to improve awareness of farm vehicle roadway crashes and increase resources for prevention.  Donnie Stamper with CARERC and SCAHIP wrapped up the workshop with his presentation, Finish the Drive, which proposed alternative ways to bring attention to slow-moving vehicles. The highlight was the presentation of a sign developed by Stamper that used LED and GPS to display the speed of the slow-moving farm vehicle. A second sign using LED and radar detection was also used to describe speed of vehicles that approached from behind the farm vehicle.

Donnie Stamper presented an innovative way to display the speed of a slow-moving agricultural vehicle as well as an approaching vehicle.

CARERC and SCAHIP are proud of the University of Kentucky students participating in their training programs.  Two of these trainees, Kelly McFarland and Katrina Clontz, along with faculty member, Dr. Stacy Vincent, presented two posters at the conference.  

Trainees Kelly McFarland and Katrina Coontz presenting one of their two posters at the ISASH Conference.

• For the first poster, An Analysis of Secondary Students’ Understanding of Farmer Suicide Drivers Following a State-Wide Essay Competition, researchers based their study on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (2010) and explored how secondary students expressed understanding of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in letters to farmers on the topic, "think of me, we're thinking of you."
• The second poster, The Creation of Mental Health Challenge Coins to Acknowledge Mental Health Concerns Among Today’s Agricultural Youth: An Innovative Idea, described an ingenious way to promote the 988 suicide prevention line. 

CARERC and SCAHIP members gained valuable insight from the workshop, poster discussions, and regular sessions throughout the conference. CARERC continuing education lead Paul Norad, DrPH contributed to the one of these sessions with his presentation using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), Farmer Suicide among States Reporting Violent Death 2003-2017.

Dr. Paul Norad presenting on Farmer Suicide among States Reporting Violent Deaths, 2003-2017 during a conference session.

Dr. Susan Jones with Raising Hope, also delivered a presentation titled Promoting Farmer Appreciation by Assisting Farmers to Share their Stories. This presentation emphasized the benefits of storytelling to improve farmer appreciation and well-being.  Conference participation by the CARERC and SCAHIP staff and faculty highlights the many ways that the Centers are providing agricultural injury prevention outreach not only within their region, but also throughout the nation.