Tractor Safety.
Tractor Safety Tips and Reminders are Everywhere. This blog is no exception. The number of injuries and deaths warrant such reminders. Some of these reminders are just short blurbs, some are like the 10 Commandments, others are far more detailed. Ignore them at your own peril.
Our list is neither comprehensive nor a short blurb.
- Be Familiar with Your Owner/Operator Manual.
- Be Familiar with Your Owner/Operator Manual
- Be Mentally and Physically Fit. No, you don’t need to be an Olympic sprinter, but you need to be able to handle the machinery, be rested, and be mentally focused on the job at hand.
- Be Properly Trained. Trained on both the tractor and any other equipment you will be using.
- Use the tractor and equipment ONLY for their intended purposes.
- Only operate in well ventilated areas. Running the engine indoors can lead to a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide.
- Check before operating. Fluid levels, air pressures, condition/tightness of bolts on ballast and attachments, windshield visibility, brakes, fire extinguisher, etc.
- Use care and caution around batteries and electrical components.
- Hydraulic systems fail. Check thoroughly and stay out from under attachments or equipment that utilize hydraulic pressure.
- Buckle UP. Always use the seat belt.
- Do NOT drill into or modify ROPS (rollover protective structures).
- Hitch implements properly. If using another person to make the connection, back up farther than is required, put the tractor in a forward gear, allow the helper to get behind the tractor and make the connection as you inch forward. With the tractor moving forward, and only forward, you can’t accidently run over your assistant.
- Understand tractor stability and the forces that upset stability.
- Operating in rough terrain or on steep slopes require special training or experience. You can easily roll over by simply turning the wrong way when operating in these conditions.
- Rollovers to the side are the most common type of rollover. Driving too close to a ditch, pond or culvert. Driving across a steep slope. Driving with loader too high. Roadway operation without locking rear brakes (pedals). Towing a load that is too heavy to control. Turning sharply while traveling too fast. Proper training applies to these conditions.
- Rear rollovers can, and often do, cause serious injury or death. They can happen so quickly that you do not have time to respond. Driving forward up a steep slope or backwards down a steep slope. Driving forward when rear wheels are stuck. Hitched too high. Lots of these rollovers happen when a chain is used to pull a stump and the hitch point is too high.
- Falls from the tractor or related equipment. See item 3 of this post. Operate the equipment only from the operator’s platform. Wear a seatbelt. Quit before you become too tired and don’t get on or off when the tractor is in motion.
- Front End Loaders are a major issue. Keep loads low to the ground and balanced on the loader. Use the required ballast. Improperly secured loads (like round bales) have caused injury and deaths in the past. Lower the loader to the ground when you shut off the tractor. Drive slow and use caution when turning. Match the bucket and size of the tractor to the job you are performing. Never allow anyone under a raised bucket. Watch for overhead obstructions. Bucket level should never obstruct vision while moving.
- PTO safety MUST always be followed. Use guards. Don’t step over, walk around. Disengage PTO before getting off the tractor. Use correct PTO speed and driveline size.
- When working on your tractor, wear safety glasses, use appropriate blocks and blocking techniques, avoid running engine indoors where possible and if you must, ensure adequate ventilation.
- Installing or removing iron ballast can cause injury or death. Never work alone and follow proper safety rules. Use the correct torque during installation and check often.
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This blog is general information only, representing the opinions of the author, and does not cover all aspects of the subject matter. Use of the information contained herein is voluntary.
