Tractor Safety
Quick Tips on Tractor Safety
Tractors are a tremendously helpful tool in farming and ranching, landscaping and other outdoor duties. But they come with their own risks, and that makes tractor safety a prime concern.
Roll-overs and run-overs are very common accidents with tractors. Most of these accidents can be avoided if the driver takes precautions.
A roll-over occurs when a tractor is run on uneven ground, and it turns over on its side, or nearly on its side. Some instances which might cause rollover are steep slopes, rough, uneven ground (holes, mounds, debris, rocks), stuck or mired rear wheels, driving too fast and improper use of front end loaders.
Run-overs occur when a tractor rides over or is driven over a person. Some situations that might result in a run-over are when you are repairing a tractor, when someone riding with you falls off, or when you fall off the tractor that you're driving.
Some ways to reduce or eliminate roll-overs:
If you are on a steep slope, back up. On uneven ground, check for rocks or other debris. If you want to make sure your wheels don't get stuck, avoid muddy or wet fields. When using the front-end loader, make sure you keep your loads low.
Many roll-over injuries can be eliminated if you wear a seatbelt, and your tractor has a protective rollover structure, which is similar to a “roll-bar” on a 4-wheeler.
Some ways to promote tractor safety by reducing or eliminating run-overs:
If you are repairing a tractor, be sure to chock the wheels, and turn the engine off if you're not in the driver's seat. Never allow a tractor to idle in a closed building, as tractor exhaust fumes could be deadly.
Never dismount a tractor and leave the engine running. Turn the engine off if you're not in the driver's seat.
Do NOT carry extra riders on a tractor. A tractor is made for ONE person, and that person should be in the driver's seat.
Be sure to wear your seatbelt so there's no chance of you falling off the tractor with it in gear, if you hit an obstruction or rough spot.
If your tractor has a PTO (power take off) shaft for bush hogs or spreaders, these shafts can quickly grab hold of loose clothing, as the PTO spins around. Injuries can happen very quickly, so always be careful to avoid wearing loose clothing if you are working around the PTO shaft.
The best way to avoid accidents with the PTO is to make sure the PTO shield is in place. Always walk around a PTO that's moving, not OVER the PTO. And make sure that the power is disengaged and the engine turned off before you attempt to clear a clog in a spreader or other implement.
Tractor safety is everyone's responsibility, but a safely used tractor is a very useful farming tool.