Farming can be a dangerous way to make a living.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members (who often share the work and live on the premises) are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. The CDC went on to say that about half of all injury-related fatalities in the agriculture industry are associated with tractors.
What can farmers and rancher do to reduce their risk? According to the Show-Me Farm Safety organization, having a safety plan in place before you start the tractor is a good start, including reading your owner’s manual and following all safety procedures outlined in that manual.
According to the National Ag Safety Database, the most common types of farm accidents are:
Power take-off accidents: During a PTO accident, always turn off the ignition key on the tractor and shut off the fuel on a diesel tractor. Do not disengage the PTO – when tension’s released, a PTO can move and cause added injury.
Most tractors are equipped with a master shield to cover the PTO stub shaft when not in use. Show-Me Farm Safety cautions producers that master shields for PTO stub shafts should never be removed from the tractor except for maintenance work, and should be replaced immediately after.
Stub shaft shields should never be taken off except when the PTO stub shaft is to be used and replaced immediately after PTO use. When shields are removed, it leaves the stub shaft exposed and puts the operator at risk of entanglement with it.
Rollovers: Tractors can easily tip to the rear when the rear wheels cannot rotate enough to move the machine forward. A rearward tractor rollover can happen in as little as three-fourths of a second, less than the reaction time of the average driver. Rearward tractor rollovers can be prevented by:
• Releasing the clutch only when the rear wheels can rotate forward
• Avoiding driving on steep hillsides
• Backing the tractor up steep hills
• Changing tractor speed gradually by applying power smoothly
• Properly stabilizing the tractor for the work to be done
• Using tire chains, boards and other materials to improve traction of wheels
• Hitching loads to the drawbar correctly
Sideways Rollovers: The wider the tractor, the more stable the machine is. Keep the center of gravity low and safely centered. Sideway rollovers can be prevented by:
• Properly stabilizing the tractor
• Avoid driving on steep hillsides
• Avoid turning at excessive speeds
• Avoid driving too close to the edge of roadside ditches or slopes
• Using a tractor equipped with Roll Over Protection Structures.
Roll-over protection structures are operator compartment structures (usually cabs or frames) on the tractor. Roll-over protection structures and proper seat belt use can eliminate nearly all fatalities caused by tractor and lawn mower overturns. If you have an older tractor model that does not have a cab or frame, a ROPS can be retrofitted onto the tractor. Many companies provide engineer-certified ROPS for purchase and installation. For low-clearance environments found in orchards or buildings, equipment should feature AutoROPS, which stay in a lowered position until a rollover condition is detected, and then deploys to a fully extended and locked position.
