Glen C. Rains, Assistant Professor
Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Tifton Campus
PDF
Proper Clothing
PTO Safety Tips
Tractor
Emergency Preparedness
Highway Transportation
Field Operations
Fire
Grain Bins
Livestock Handling (Cattle)
Web Link Resources
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Most farm injuries and fatalities are preventable when you adhere to safe operating practices. The following are general guidelines for improved safety on the farm. Web resources for further recommendations and information are provided.
Loose clothing is a common cause of injury in agriculture. Most agricultural equipment has gears, pulleys and sharp edges that can easily catch clothing. As a precaution, wear tight fitting clothing; keep cuffs buttoned and shirts tucked in; don’t wear a tie while working and remove any loose jewelry. Keep long hair under a cap or head covering to prevent it from getting tangled in equipment. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat is also recommended to reduce sun exposure, a leading cause of skin cancer to farmers.
Power take-off (PTO) drives are extremely dangerous. Today’s equipment must come with appropriate guarding to keep moving parts shielded. Older machines, however, are normally not guarded and many of the guards on the newer machines are bent, broken or have been removed.
While the following tips sound obvious, they are good reminders.
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| PTO driveline safety cover: All rotating parts are covered and the cover does not rotate. | PTO driveline without safety guards. |
One of the greatest threats to an operator from the tractor itself is rollover. New tractors must have rollover protective structures (ROPS), and many older tractors have been retrofitted. A serious danger from rollover of open cab tractors exists, however, when a seat belt is not being worn. The ROPS provides a protective space to prevent you from being crushed by the tractor. Without your safety belt, you can easily fall out of the seat and still get crushed by the tractor. You may even be crushed by the ROPS — the very piece of safety equipment provided to save you in a rollover. The following are general guidelines to ensure safe operation of your equipment:
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| ROPS equipped tractor. |
Every member of a farm family and their hired workers (for farms with large numbers of migrant workers, the foremen) should be trained in life-saving techniques, including first aid and CPR. In rural areas where medical help may be several minutes away, the first person on the scene may need to initiate life-saving aid before emergency rescue personnel arrive.
One of the most dangerous farming operations is driving or carrying equipment over state and county roads. Always use a slow moving vehicle (SMV) emblem when driving equipment on the highway. One of the most common causes of accidents on public roads is when motorists attempt to pass a SMV. In many cases, motorists will mistakenly believe the farm operator is turning right when he is actually swinging to the right to make a left turn. Motorists can mistake the initial right turn for an opportunity to pass on the left side and cause a collision. (See figure below.) Use pilot vehicles to alert motorists and keep them from getting too close, and use two-way radios to communicate with the pilot vehicle.
An injury that would not be considered life threatening near the shop can turn fatal in the field. Injuries that occur when the operator is in a field, alone, can leave the worker stranded for hours. As a precaution, always alert someone with a two-way radio or cell phone when you dismount a tractor or other piece of equipment. If you do not call back within 10 minutes, someone should call you. Also, make regular calls to let someone know where you are and that you are OK. Again, if you miss a regular call-in, someone should call to see that you are OK.
A few steps towards fire prevention and preparedness on the farm can reduce the potential of a fire and the extent of damage in case a fire does occur. The following tips are recommended:
Several hazards are associated with handling grain in grain bins and you need to take precautions:
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| The danger of collapse from bridged grain. |
Livestock are very dangerous if they are not respected.
Cattle have a wide angle of vision (almost 360 degrees) and are easily frightened by shadows, unfamiliar objects and loud noises. Cattle will move around to see what is in their blind spot and are more easily agitated when something remains there. Sound is also important to cattle. They are sensitive to loud and high pitched noises.
Cattle are herding animals and will be much easier to move when they are in contact with other cattle. They tend to follow the leader, so if you can get one to move in the desired direction, the others will follow.
Another behavioral concept that is important is the “flight zone.” Livestock will react in a variety of ways according to a handler’s activities relative to their flight zone. For example, livestock will face a handler and maintain a safe distance when the handler is outside their flight zone. In contrast, livestock will turn away from a handler who enters their flight zone. Individual animals will have flight zones of varying sizes based on their fright level. Working from the edge of the flight zone will generally help keep livestock calm and manageable.
The point of balance is another important behavioral principle to understand. An animal’s point of balance is located at its shoulders. An animal will move depending on the handler’s position relative to its point of balance. This principle can be used to calmly and easily encourage livestock through crowding pens, and squeeze chutes. For example, when a handler stands behind the animal’s point of balance, the animal will move forward. When the handler stands in front of an animal’s point of balance, the animal will stop or back up. To encourage an animal forward, simply walk toward the animal, crossing the point of balance, and it will move forward.
Sudden changes in a chute or corral, either visual or auditory, can frighten an animal. Remove noise makers such as loose chains or hanging pieces of metal. Also remove visual distractions and dark areas in the chute. Even a small piece of paper that may seem innocuous to us may be a large distraction and frighten livestock. Examine corral and chute layouts to reduce animal stress. A less stressful animal is less dangerous.
Some general precautions when handling livestock include:
National Ag. Safety Database – Resource location of papers, video, and presentations in agricultural safety http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/
Animal Handling. Dr. Temple Grandin – Associate Professor of Animal Science, Colorado State University http://www.grandin.com
National Safety Council – Agricultural Safety Page http://www.nsc.org/resources/issues/agrisafe.aspx
Youth in Agriculture http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/youth/agriculture
Southeast Center for Agricultural Health & Injury Prevention http://www.mc.uky.edu/scahip/
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids http://www.fs4jk.org/
National Institute for Farm Safety (NIFS) http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~agsafety/NIFS/nifs.htm
North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks http://www.nagcat.org/
National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/children/
University of Florida Ag Safety Website http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu
Bulletin 1255 / Reviewed May, 2009
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