Avoiding Harm on the Farm - Tractor Safety

Farming is one of the most hazardous occupations. The statistics tell the tale. One of the most common causes of injury and death is the unsafe use of equipment. These injuries can be prevented by taking necessary safety precautions. Farm owners are responsible for the safety of their workers. They must ensure that employees and family workers are trained on the proper and safe ways to do their jobs. The risk of injury and illness can be reduced by taking preventive steps such as conducting routine hazard checks on equipment, buildings and grounds - and correcting problems immediately.

Follow these tips when working with or around farm equipment:

Read and follow the operator's safety manual and product labels for each piece of farm equipment being used.

Ensure that workers have been trained and are capable of safely using the farm equipment.

Be alert. Get enough rest, take breaks as needed and do not drink alcohol before operating equipment.

Keep children away from the working area.

Ensure all guards, shields, and access doors are in place when the equipment is in operation. If they must be removed for any reason, ensure that the equipment is not operated until they are put back on. Replace any missing or damaged guards or shields.

Always stop the engine, disconnect the power source, and wait for all moving parts to stop, before servicing, adjusting, cleaning, or unclogging equipment. Allow the engine to cool before refuelling.

General Tractor Safety

Tractors are the single biggest causes of deaths and injuries on the farm, with tractor roll overs and runovers causing almost half of all farm fatalities. Keep safety in mind at all times and follow these guidelines to safely work with tractors:

Know how to use the tractor safely. Know the location and function of the controls and how to stop the tractor quickly in the event of an emergency.

Properly train and supervise new operators before allowing them to drive.

Before starting the tractor, inspect the vehicle. Check for parts that might have been loosened and tighten or replace any parts that are not in good working order. Check the oil and fuel level when the engine is cool.

Wear clothing that is snugly fitted so it won't get caught in the machinery, and that protects (e.g. steel shank boots, long pants). Use personal protective equipment (e.g. eye protection) where necessary.

Do not allow riders on a tractor - there should only be one person on board.

Install an approved roll over protective structure (ROPS) and seat belt - and use them.

Place the tractor in neutral or park before starting it, and only start the engine from the driver's seat. Never bypass start the engine (operator "bypasses" safety procedures and the normal starting system - e.g. touching a screwdriver to the starter contacts to activate the engine). This is extremely dangerous. There is a risk of losing control of the vehicle and it could hit someone - injuring or even killing them.

Disengage the gears and turn the engine off before leaving the tractor unattended.

Hitch loads only to the drawbar - no higher. When using three-point rear hitches or hauling heavy loads, add front-end weights to maintain stability and control steering.

Driving the Tractor Safely

Before starting the tractor, make sure no one is behind, under or in front of it.

When driving the tractor, start slowly, change gears carefully, and when pulling a heavy load, apply the power slowly.