Working safely with a tractor means being aware of its dangers
BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 20, 2009 – Human beings are not very good at assessing risk. This includes farmers. They worry about the wrong dangers, putting themselves at risk and making it more likely that a common farm accident will occur.
According to an Iowa study, farmers thought the most hazardous part of their work was handling insecticides and they perceived tractors as the least hazardous. Yet for those reporting accidents, farm machinery was the number one item involved, with tractors being fourth. No acute accidents involving insecticides were reported.
“When farmers using tractors don’t recognize their danger, they might not take the precautions they need to,” says Bobby Grisso, Virginia Cooperative Extension engineer at Virginia Tech.
“No riders, especially children, is the first safety rule,” Grisso says. Tractors are designed for one person to control and to perform specific tasks. The protections on a tractor are designed for only that one person. An enclosed cab does not protect an extra rider from being bumped off a tractor.
Tractor overturns are the number one cause of tractor-related deaths, but the National Safety Council statistics show rollover protective structures (ROPS) used with seat belts are 99 percent effective in reducing deaths due to tractor rollovers.
“Those kinds of numbers are encouraging," says Grisso. “But we still have a long way to go. Farming is the second most dangerous occupation in the country, and studies show that the farm tractor is involved in a high proportion of farm fatalities and severe injuries.”
“Virginia's mountainous terrain is a hazard,” explains Grisso. “Even in the relatively level sections, there is danger of overturns if the operator turns a corner too fast or too short when entering a drive or road. Field overturns can occur when carrying loads too high with a loader, spraying weeds along fence rows, herding cattle, driving along the edge of a dead-furrow, performing haying operations, or doing maintenance mowing of untilled ground and terraces.”
“Know the tractor’s center of gravity. If enough force is exerted on a tractor causing it to lean or tilt to a point where the center of gravity moves beyond the stability baseline, the tractor will roll over.”
ROPS, including seatbelts, have been standard equipment on tractors since 1986. Approved ROPS are available for some tractors manufactured from as early as 1960, and for most tractors manufactured after 1969.
“Even so, the National Safety Council estimates that at least two-thirds of tractors in use in the United States are not equipped with ROPS,” Grisso notes. “They should be. Or, if there is a tractor with ROPS available, be sure to use it for the more difficult terrain jobs.”
Grisso reminds farmers to be physically and mentally fit before operating tractors. Fatigue, stress, medication, alcohol, and drugs can keep you from focusing on safe tractor operation. Don’t forget to take necessary breaks.
“Make sure that everyone who operates a tractor has received training and is physically able to operate it safely,” he adds. “Read the operator’s manual and warning decals. Pay attention to safety information.”
Inspect the tractor for any hazards and correct them before operating. Run a maintenance check before you start. Check to make sure the brakes are properly adjusted, tires are inflated properly, lights and flashers are operational, and the hydraulics are free from leaks.
You also need to make sure that your additional safety equipment is in place, Grisso says. Is the 20-pound ABC fire extinguisher mounted? Is your first aid kit on board and fully stocked? Is the reflective “Slow Moving Vehicle” emblem posted?
Lastly, don’t forget to shut down equipment, turn off the engine, remove the key, and wait for moving parts to stop before approaching any equipment. Keep bystanders and others away from the tractor operation area.
Keeping track of and following all the safety rules and reminders can be a chore, and, yes, accidents can happen even then. However, by practicing these safety rules everyday you’ll never have to say “if only” after an accident, says Grisso.
Contact: Robert Grisso
Virginia Cooperative Extension Engineer
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6538
rgrisso@vt.edu
Contact: Michael Sutphin
Writer
Communications and Marketing
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-6975
msutphin@vt.edu
Writer: Susan Suddarth
Student Intern
Communications and Marketing
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Tech