Oklahoma Lawmaker Hopes to Save Lives With Rebates For Rollbars

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Several states are now making a push to cut down on the leading cause of farm related deaths with a rebate program, and one Oklahoma legislator is working to get Oklahoma in on the efforts.

State Representative and farmer John Enns nearly lost his life in 2004 when his tractor rolled over breaking his back in three places. He was told he would never walk again.

"There are so many of us that got so many things going on, and boy, I tell you what, just split second and you're done, and there's a lot of people that get injured," Enns said. "I tend to say rollover accidents aren't that common but one a year is too much."

An American Journal of Industrial Medicine study showed 1,538 farmers have died in tractor rollovers nationwide between 1992 and 2007. This year, at least three farmers were killed in tractor rollovers in Oklahoma, and those accidents have grabbed the attention of other agricultural states.

"We've lost a lot of farmers this year due to rollover accidents, and a lot of these older tractors and a lot of these tractors don't have rollbars," Enns said.

The Rebates for Rollbars program started in New York and offers rebates for upgrade on 'older' tractors such as crush-proof rollbars and seat belts.

"It's going to save people's lives. It's going to save people from having long-term medical issues like myself being in a wheelchair. There's all kind of things that come with that," Enns said.

For the 4th generation farmer, his medical issues have not kept him from doing his job.

"I think it's very important to have a rollbar on something like that. Obviously, if there had been a rollbar on the equipment I was driving, you know, I wouldn't have broke my back," Enns said.

The money comes through grants from the CDC and insurance companies. Agriculture experts said there needs to be an insurance mandate in order to bring the program to our state.