Conduct high risk area investigations

Much of the earlier work done on the broad problem of "farm accidents" involved little in-depth investigation based on epidemiological approaches. After completion of the first three statewide farm injury surveys completed in Indiana, in the 1970's and 80's the conclusion was drawn that not much had changed in the big picture and that little was still known about the nature of specific types of workplace injuries. Recent Purdue research efforts have focused on specific high risk areas as determined by on-going data collection and the evident lack of prior research. For example, as the result of the concentrated research efforts on confined space and flowing grain entrapments, more effective educational materials were developed and more meaningful design recommendations were made to the manufacturers of grain storage facilities and grain transport vehicles to reduce the risk of flowing grain entrapment. Another good example of the impact of this type of research was the increased use by leading tractor manufacturers of the moveable power-take-off master shield which was shown superior by a Purdue study. See section on graduate-level research for examples of recent research efforts.

Another outcome of the in-depth research has been over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles on various areas related to agricultural safety and health. This includes the following: