Farm Tractor Safety Tips: Rollovers, Trailers And Kids

Ever since the tractor entered the agricultural world in the 1800s, it has been used to improve agricultural life and sustain nourishment for millions of people worldwide.

Though tractors make it possible for farmers to maximize agricultural output to unprecedented levels, there are numerous safety concerns to be taken into consideration when operating one of these behemoth technological marvels.

According to the National Safety Council, the agricultural industry has the highest rate of worker deaths. Out of 100,000 workers, 29.2 die yearly in agriculture-related accidents, as opposed to 3.5 deaths on-the-job deaths reported in other industries. Nearly all these deaths are preventable through proper safety training.

Since farming is generally a family business, tractor safety for kids is important. Both children and adults should obtain proper tractor safety training if they will even be in the vehicle's presence.

Tractor safety begins by knowing how to work the machine. Most modern farm tractors have four foot-pedals side-by-side on the floor. The pedal furthest to the left is the clutch, responsible for shifting gears. The two center pedals operate the brakes: the left brake pedal stops the left rear wheel and the right brake pedal stops the right rear wheel. Splitting the brakes between left and right wheels helps the tractor navigate through mud and soft dirt. Finally, the furthest right pedal controls the throttle, which helps produce a constant speed during tilling, mowing or thrashing.

Before using a tractor, review the owner's manual. Make sure all leaks are repaired and all loose fitting are securely tightened. Check to make certain the vehicle has safety belts and is equipped with a rollover protection system (ROPS). Rollover safety protects drivers of open-air tractors from getting crushed if they happen to lose control of the vehicle while working on steep farming slopes.

Farmers should only start the tractor once they are sitting atop the machine. From the ground, an operator cannot tell if the transmission is in neutral or park. The operator risks accidentally being run over if the manual transmission is in gear when the tractor is started.

Proper hitching is important for both rollover safety and tractor trailer safety. Loads should only be hitched to the drawbar or three-point hitch. Hitching an excessive load from above axle height can cause the tractor to pivot around the rear axle, causing a rollover. To prevent these problems, keep the trailer correctly connected to the tractor and make certain no loose chains are dragging. Riders are responsible for keeping the tractor's center of gravity stable.

Tractor safety courses are available for farmers and their families. Designed for students 13 years and older, most classes are free and open to the public. Participants receive a Federal Certificate of Training at the end of the course, which typically includes both a driving exam and a written test.




Sources:
Luett, Heidi. Safety Group to Launch Initiative to Keep Farm Children Safer. 21 Sept. 2006. Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. 22 Nov. 2006.
National AG Safety Database. 2006. 22 Nov. 2006.
National Safety Council. 30 March 2004. 22 Nov. 2006.
Maher, George. Tractor Safety: Stay on Top of It! 1997. NDSU. 22 Nov. 2006.
Wikipedia. 2006. 22 Nov. 2006. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor>