OHS: YouthSafe: Safety First: Rural Role Play

Rural Role Play

Not So Hard Headed

The Scenario

Troy is 16 years old and lives in a country town. He really wants to be a farmer. Troy works casually on a farm owned by a friend of his family. Troy's jobs on the farm are fence repair and weed control. The Farmer doesn't let Troy drive the tractor because it is too dangerous.

When Troy takes equipment out into the paddocks the Farmer lets him use one of the four wheeled agricultural (ag.) bikes. Troy has been shown how to ride the agricultural bike safely. The Farmer has several crash helmets to wear.

One day Troy was left alone to his chores on the farm. Troy decided to put the bike through its paces. He did not think to use a crash helmet because he didn't think he would be long. While trying some stunts Troy flipped the ag. bike over. He landed on his head and fractured his skull on a rock. The Farmer found Troy lying on the ground unconscious and called an ambulance.

The role play begins in a meeting between a WorkCover Inspector, the Farmer, Troy (now out of hospital) and Troy's father. The WorkCover Inspector is trying find out what caused the accident.

The Characters

Troy: Troy is a normal country boy enjoying the outdoor life. He feels a little silly about hurting himself and is worried about going back to work.

The Farmer: The Farmer is generally careful about safety issues on the farm. He is concerned about what happened to Troy, and wants to keep him on. The Farmer does not accept responsibility for the accident.

WorkCover Inspector: The Inspector is concerned about the high number of ag. bike accidents in the region. The Inspector is investigating all ag. bike accidents to try and work out how to reduce these accidents.

Troy's father: Troy's father is upset and wants to know why Troy was left unsupervised on the farm.

Activity Plan		Date:
Subject:	Topic:	Length:
OHS	Rural Role Play	40 min
Activity Outcomes
Students will demonstrate the application of OHS practice in the workplace. Students will evaluate their own feelings about workplace injuries.
Preparation
Photocopy of the scenario for each student. Characters' roles placed into envelopes. Students organised into groups of five participants. Gender of roles may be changed as appropriate.

Plan
Steps/ Activities:	Teacher Action	Student Action	Time
1. Introduce activity	Select students to read scenario aloud.	Selected students read sections of the scenario to the class.	10 min
2. Group role play. (for small classes one role play should be done and rest of class observe)	Organise groups of five. Four to role play, one to observe.	Students decide who plays what role or observe.	15 mins
3. Whole class discussion	Hand out material. Lead discussion.	Do role play. The observer records the main points of what happened. Observers read out what they saw. Rest of class discuss feelings during role play.	10 min
4. Conclude activity (Compile and describe results in groups then discuss as whole class)	Conclude activity.	Conclude activity.	5 min

Main issues

Troy should:

Not have taken the ag. bike without permission.
Have used a crash helmet.
Have used the bike safely at work.

The Farmer should:

Not have left Troy unsupervised.
Have made sure that during Troy's training he understood the ag. bike was not a toy.

The WorkCover Inspector may:

Record details of leading up to the accident.
Give advice on how to prevent accidents.
Issue a notice to improve safe work methods.
Take more serious enforcement action, such as fines or prosecution if necessary.



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