INTEGRATED PLANT PROTECTION CENTER

OSU Policy on Tractor Safety Training

for Children

Oregon State University Policy on Tractor Safety Training for Children aged 14 to 17

OSU Extension Faculty or High School Agriculture Teachers must directly supervise the training.  Simply signing off on a form indicating the student or trainer has met all the requirements is not sufficient.  The OSU Extension Faculty person or High School Agriculture Teacher may recruit others to assist in the training, but the OSU Extension Faculty person or High School Agriculture Teacher must be the principal person conducting the training.

Furthermore, the person conducting the training (i.e. the OSU Extension Faculty person or High School Agriculture Teacher) must be certified.  To acquire the certification, the trainer must complete a “Tractor and Machine Operation Safety Train the Trainer Program” conducted under the direction of The Farm Safety Program.  Those who have been certified by Myron Shenk or completed the AG 412 Course are already certified and do not need to attend this training program.  The next “Tractor and Machine Operation Safety Train the Trainer Program” will be available in Summer or Fall of 2007.  Please e-mail Reynold Gardner at reynold.gardner@oregonstate.edu or Tim Stock at stockt@science.oregonstate.edu for more information.

For your information, the national requirements for certification have been met after the trainee has:
A. Completed the 24-hour course on operating farm tractors and machinery
    1. Attended all class sessions or made up the work to the instructor's satisfaction
    2. Completed the worksheet for each unit and corrected any mistakes
    3. Completed the checksheet for each unit and corrected any mistakes
    4. Passed the written examination
    5. Demonstrated that he/she can safely drive one of the 4-H/FFA Tractor Operator's Content courses

B. Reached his/her 14th birthday