Nebraska Extension Offers Tractor Safety Course to Teens Across the State

Members of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health will provide a tractor safety course May through July in 12 towns across Nebraska. In partnership with Nebraska Extension, the course provides extensive training on tractor and all-terrain vehicles safety with a variety of hands-on activities.

The most common cause of agricultural-related deaths in Nebraska is overturned tractors and ATVs. Instilling an attitude of ‘safety first’ and respect for agricultural equipment are primary goals of the Nebraska Extension Tractor Safety & Hazardous Occupations Course for those 14 and 15 years old who work on farms. Those under age 14 are not eligible to take the course.

Instructors for the course are members of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health: Aaron Yoder, Ph.D., Ellen Duysen; UNMC graduate students Dan Kent, and Jill Oatman; and Nebraska Extension educators Troy Ingram, Randy Saner and John Thomas.

Federal law prohibits children under 16 years of age from using certain equipment on a farm unless their parents or legal guardians own the farm. However, certification received through the course grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with certain mechanized equipment.

Cost of the course is $60 and includes educational materials and instruction, supplies, and lunch. Dates, training site locations, site coordinator phone numbers, and the registration form can be found at kearney.unl.edu.