Recognizing Common Farm Equipment Hazards
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Farm Safety Association, Inc.
Instructor:
The following script can be used to deliver a 15-minute
training session to employees. You may wish to use some pieces
of farm equipment as props, so that you can point out examples
of the various hazards.
The text emphasizes important points related to preventing
contact with operating farm machinery. It is suggested that
you try to stay strictly on topic. Obviously, you will need
to be prepared to answer questions.
POINTS
TO EMPHASIZE :
|
Be aware
of the danger
Operating farm equipment presents a serious threat to life and
limb. You need to be able to recognize machine hazards, and
take the appropriate steps to protect yourself.
When working with farm equipment, accident prevention depends
on:
- Knowledge of hazards.
- Keeping all guards and shields in place and well maintained.
- Heeding the warnings spelled out on the various decals affixed to equipment.
- Always disengaging the power, shutting off the engine, pocketing the key, and waiting for all parts to stop moving before doing any kind of work on a machine.
A multitude of different machines are used in a typical farm operation. However, the major farm equipment hazards are common to all makes and models.
All fann workers should learn to recognize the following hazard points on fann equipment, and take appropriate actions to avoid accidental contact.
1. Pinch points exist where two parts move together, with at least one of them turning in a circle. Examples include chain drives, belt drives, gear drives, and feeder rolls. Clothing can become caught and drawn into a pinch point. Never reach into the area near a rotating part. Fingers, hands, or other body parts can easily be severed by a pinch point.
2. Pull-in accidents happen when a person tries to unclog or feed material by hand into an operating machine. Feed rolls and other machine components are simply too fast. They will pull you in and mangle you before you can react and let go.
3. Wrap points exist wherever there is an exposed, rotating shaft. Once material is caught by the shaft, there is no escape. Important wrapping hazards include:
- shaft ends which protrude beyond bearings.
- splined, square and hex-shaped shafts are most likely to wrap hair or clothing. However, even the smoothest rotating shaft can grab and wrap.
- couplers, u-joints, keys, and other fasteners on shafts increase the wrapping hazard.
- exposed beaters and pickup reels are also a wrapping threat.
5. Thrown objects-some farm machines can propel objects great distances with tremendous force. Rotary mowers and flail choppers can hurl small stones and other debris. Combine straw choppers and hammermills can fling kernels and other crop material with considerable force.
6. Freewheeling parts on farm equipment may continue to rotate for two minutes or more after power is disengaged. Examples include forage harvester cutterheads, hammermills, baler flywheels, rotary mowers, and blower fans. Injury occurs when an impatient person reaches in to unclog or service the equipment before the freewheeling part stops moving.
7. Crush points are created when two objects move toward each other, or when one object moves toward a stationary item. A crush point exists between an implement tongue and a tractor drawbar. Other examples of potential crush points include jacked-up equipment, raised hydraulic components, and overhead garage doors.
Recognition, avoidance, prevention
To prevent farm equipment accidents, you first must learn to recognize the hazards that lliese machines present. Develop good safety habits to ensure that you have no contact with operating machinery.
- Under no circumstances should you ever reach into any part of an operating machine. Always disengage power, shut off the engine, take the key, and wait for all parts to stop moving before attempting to service or unplug equipment.
- All guards and shields must be in place and properly maintained. Replace all shielding that was removed to make repairs.
- When hitching equipment, the helper should stand clear until the tractor is backed into position. Always inch the tractor forward (never backward) to make necessary positioning adjustments.
- Bystanders should be kept away from areas where they could be struck by thrown objects.
Are there any questions?
Finally, let's take a moment to review some of the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of farm equipment accident prevention.
| DO: Wait for all motion to stop before adjusting of unplugging equipment. Replace damaged or missing shields before using equipment. Insist that children and bystanders stay well clear of operating machines |
DON’T:
Try to remove a twine that is partially wrapped around a shaft. Work under raised equipment unless it is securely blocked. Kick a wad of hay into a baler pickup. |
The information and recommendations contained in this publication
are believed to be reliable and representative of contemporary
expert opinion on the subject material. The farm safety Association
Inc. does not guarantee absolute accuracy or sufficiency of
subject material, nor can it accept responsibility for health
and safety recommendations that may have been omitted due to
particular and exceptional conditions and circumstances.
Copyright @ 2000
Farm Safety Association Inc.
22-340 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, Ontario NIH 7K6 (519) 823-5600
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
Reviewed for NASD: 10/2003