60d FRN Public Comments Summary

Appendix H – Public Comment Received and Response

From: Wolf, Mike - IIW [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 8:45 AM
To: OMB-Comments (CDC)
Cc: Wolf, Mike - IIW
Subject: CROPS Participant/comment

I am a Maryland farmer with 3 Massey Ferguson Tractors (model #1080, and two model #65’s) that need ROPS.

I would like to participate in the CROPS program and be a demonstrator for the project.

I am also a member of the ASSE Agricultural Practice specialty – could be a good synergistic partnership for the NIOSH Project listed below.

This is worthwhile research – I have not installed ROPS on my tractors because of cost and availability.

I believe that most family farms operate these older tractors again due to cost.

Response

Mr. Wolf,

Thank you for your interest in the CROPS project.   I appreciate your willingness to be a demonstrator for the project, but we are currently focusing on two states, Virginia and New York, in which to conduct the CROPS project.  Additionally, we do not currently have a CROPS design for the model of tractors (MF 1080 & 65) which you indicate need ROPS.  Thus, we would not be able to assist you under the current proposed project. However, you may want to check with your state cooperative extension service to see if they offer any assistance to farmers for retrofitting agricultural tractors within your state.

Also, I am interested in your comment regarding ASSE Agricultural Practice specialty and a potential synergistic partnership.  I believe this might be an avenue in which to disseminate results of the study when completed.  If you would be willing to contact me with details of that group and when/where they meet, I would appreciate it.

Finally, I appreciate your comment that this is a worthwhile project and agree with your assessment regarding the reason many tractors have not been retrofitted with a ROPS is due to the cost factor.  Indeed, a premise of the proposed project is that a more cost-effective rollover protective structure (CROPS) would have an effect (increase) on farmers retrofitting their tractors.

Thank you for your interest and taking the time to provide comments on this important project.

Sincerely,

David L. Hard, Ph.D.

Agriculture Safety and Health Scientist

CDC/NIOSH/DSR/AFEB

MS 1811

1095 Willowdale Road

Morgantown, WV 26505

Phone: 304-285-6068

Email: [email protected]

Fax: 304-285-6235