Farm Safety Training The following safety module is intended to be used as a refresher safety awareness session and is in no way to be used as a substitute for job training

Securely Fasten Your Seat Belt if the Tractor has ROPS Don’t rely on the tractor’s Rollover Protection System (ROPS) alone for your protection; use your seat belt.

Reduce Speed when Turning When operating a tractor, avoid sharp turns and high speeds. High speeds, coupled with rough ground and narrow wheel settings, increase the chance for rollover. Make turns slowly and at wide angles

Look Around Before Starting the Equipment Adjust your seat so you can easily reach all controls and see all gauges and indicator lights. After you have completed the initial safety inspection, you can turn on the power

Avoid Operating Tractors Near Ditches, Embankments, & Holes Keep away from irrigation ditches and embankment edges. Edges may be weak and break from the weight of the equipment. When you are traveling downhill, use low gears. When you must go up a slope, back up to increase your stability. Approaching a steep slope in the forward position will cause the tractor to upset and possible injure or kill you..

If You Get Stuck, Get Help from Another Tractor If you get stuck, do not tie a fence post or any other object to the tire for traction; it may tip the tractor over as it tries to overcome the hump, or the post may be thrown up behind the tractor, hitting the driver.

Never Permit Riders An unexpected jolt or stop can cause a rider to lose balance and fall beneath the trailing equipment or tractor tires. Unless a seat is specifically designed for an additional person, never permit anyone to ride.

Hitch Only to the Drawbar and High Points Tractors are designed to tow loads from the rear hitch only. Never hitch a load to the axle or seat as this will cause the tractor to upset backwards. Tractors that are too small for the load will have problem stopping once the load has begun to move. Balance the weight of the load on the trailing implement in order to minimize the stress at the hitch point.

Never Engage in Stunt Driving or Horseplay Tractors are not designed for high speeds or quick maneuvers. Due to location of the tractor’s center of gravity, it can easily tip to the side in not handled properly.

Set the Brakes Securely when Tractor is Stopped When you need to make adjustments, put the tractor into neutral, se the brakes, turn off the engine and remove the key. Be sure to disengage the PTO before working on any trailing equipment.

Inspect your Tractor Regularly Since the tractors can be taken on public roads, it is important that tail lights, signals and safety chains are maintained in good condition, inspect the brake and engine fluid, and a Slow Moving Vehicle emblem at the rear.

Use Special Caution with Articulated Farm Tractors Articulated-frame tractors tend to bend in the middle so it is especially important that you exercise caution when others are nearby. Steering is more difficult so any load being pulled will swing wider.

Use Common Sense To prevent unnecessary injuries, don’t jump from the tractor but use the provided hand railing and steps. Use safety hand signals to maintain communication with co-workers. Ask your supervisor for a copy of the hand signals used by your Unit

6 Principles of “Defensive Farming” (BTW, I did not make up that term) Pinch Point Wrap Point Shear Points Crush Points Stored Energy Pull-in Points

Pinch Point Also known as mangled or maimed points. Pinch points are when two rotating objects move together and at least one of them moves in a circle.

Wrap Point Rotating shafts where cuff, sleeve, pant leg, long hair, or just a thread can get caught. Check all equipment for potential wrap points and, if possible, shield those that can be shielded.

Shear Points Shear points are created edges of two objects are moved together closely enough to cut a soft material.

Stored Energy Hazards are present in pressured systems such as hydraulics, compressed air, and springs. Sudden or unsuspected pressurization or depressurization of these system can result in crushing.

Pull-in Points Mechanisms designed to take in crops or other materials for processing i.e. combime headers, windrow pickups, and grinders, can unintentionally process something else.

All Done! Make sure you fill out the quiz and return it me for recordkeeping Remember: This is an annual requirement. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR

Questions Contact: Kathie Moh