October 18, 2022
Update - Youth Tractor and Machinery Operations Program
Submitted by Tawnie L Larson an Chery Boyer
It’s time to start planning for the Spring and Summer 2023 Youth Tractor and Machinery courses. The program that KSRE utilizes is the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) through Penn State Extension. This program has been selected since it meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor and OSHA, and offers instructor training and support.
We encourage all counties and district agents to offer this important safety program to your communities. To become an Instructor, visit our Instructor Resources webpage. There is a one-time cost of $35. After completion of the course, instructors will receive a teaching guide, lesson plans, PowerPoint deck, updates to materials, annual tests/keys and more. The Instructor Training covers how to administer the course; it does not cover the content to be presented to students. You are encouraged to have multiple presenters to offer different perspectives and specialties. First responders, implement dealers and mechanics, local farmers and agriculture educators are just a few that can add different dynamics to your program.
For CURRENT and NEW Instructors:
The USDOL requires 24 hours of instruction for the minimum core areas. This may take place over several sessions and can include group discussions, demonstrations, field trips to farms or equipment dealers, and hands-on activities, all in addition to the classroom instruction which should meet the 24-hour requirement. We have reviewed this requirement with the university attorney and been advised to meet all the requirements or not offer the training, for two reasons:
1. If the program does not meet the minimum standards for certification, the university may be liable to any person that is certified who is injured in the operation of machinery to the extent the injury is caused by a lack of training;
2. The university potentially could be misrepresenting to an employer that an individual is properly trained, when our program has not met required standards under the regulations. Furthermore, this could extend our liability to future employers of these individuals who have relied upon our certification in authorizing the person to operate machinery.
* There has been discussion in the past about the 10–14-hour courses, this only covers tractor operation training and it is not part of our program.
* Each student should receive the Revised Third Edition manual; it has a green tractor on the cover.
* The GOOD NEWS is that we have been advised that allowing the employer of the student to administer the driving portion of the exam is approved, as long as the agent who is signing the certificate has either observed the test or can corroborate or verify that the person has passed; this should include a written verification of the employer.
CALL TO ACTION:
* Visit National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program
* Join Teams KSRE National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program
* Watch for more updates coming soon!
* Call or email Tawnie Larson with questions, tawnie@ksu.edu, or 785-532-2976