Contents
Tractor safety tips
Tractor Safety
Reminders about Tractor Safety from the National Safety Council
[Reprinted without permission from "Hot Line Farm Equipment Guide," September, 1996, v. 15, no. 9, and modified for the Small Tractor FAQ by the author.]
Did you know that today's modern farm tractors have seat belts? Always use a seat belt when operating a tractor equipped with a roll-over protective structure (ROPS). The seat belt will help insure that if the tractor overturns, your body will be held in place and protected by the ROPS.
Never use a seat belt when operating a tractor not equipped with a ROPS. Not being restrained by a seat belt will make it at least possible that you can jump or be thrown clear if the tractor overturns, and not trapped beneath it. Don't just "buckle-up for safety," use your head, instead. Your family will be glad you did.
Agriculture is America's most dangerous industry. Tractor roll-over accident injuries and deaths may be prevented by retrofitting older tractors with ROPS. All major equipment manufacturers provide tractor safety programs, including information about retrofitting older tractors with ROPS. Check with your dealer today about a ROPS for your older tractor. Or see the "Guide to Tractor Roll Bars and Other Rollover Protective Structures".
The National Safety Council urges people not to allow children to ride as extra passengers on lawn mowers, tractors, other farm equipment or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
The National Safety Council urges morotists never to pass a slow moving farm machine if you can't see well enough around it. Operators of slow moving equipment are urged to pull off periodically onto a wide, flat shoulder so that cars may pass safely. Equipment which travels less than 25 miles per hour should have a clearly visible slow-moving vehicle emblem affixed to the rear. Flashing hazard lights are also recommended.
PTO stands for Power Take-Off. The fast-moving shaft running from the tractor PTO to an implement is the source of many needless accidents. Unfortunately, many operators can say they've gotten too close to a moving PTO shaft. The lucky ones live to tell about their clothing being torn away. Other victims suffer serious injury or death. Make sure the PTO shaft is enclosed in a non-rotating collar (PTO shield) and turn off the PTO when inspecting an equipment problem or making repairs.
Machinery maintenance can keep you and your family safer:
- Inspect chain guards and PTO shields. Then, immediately replace or repair any missing or damaged shields.
- Maintain lights and reflectors on your equipment, especially if it is being driven or towed on roads or highways.
- Ensure that belts and chain drives are properly adjusted.
- Walk the area to be mowed, clearing away any debris or trash that might be thrown from the mower.
- When mowing roadsides, use a tractor equipped with a ROPS to protect the operator in case the tractor tips over.
For more information about safety at home, at work, in the field or on the road, visit the National Safety Council home page. The National Safety Council is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental public service organization.
