Tractor Safety, Tractor Safety, Operation, and Operation, and MaintenanceMaintenance

Tractor SafetyTractor Safety

Importance of SafetyImportance of Safety

Annually, 300 to 400 tractor-related Annually, 300 to 400 tractor-related deaths occur on U.S. farms. Over 50 deaths occur on U.S. farms. Over 50 percent of tractor-related deaths are percent of tractor-related deaths are caused by tractor roll-overs. A roll caused by tractor roll-overs. A roll bar or roll-over protective structure bar or roll-over protective structure and seat belt usage could have and seat belt usage could have prevented all of these deaths. Other prevented all of these deaths. Other fatalities include falls, run-overs, fatalities include falls, run-overs, crushes and PTO entanglement.crushes and PTO entanglement.

Types of Tractor Injury-Types of Tractor Injury-Incidents Incidents

There are several types of tractor mishaps There are several types of tractor mishaps that result in injury. Common mishaps are: that result in injury. Common mishaps are:

by-pass starting by-pass starting front-end loader incidents front-end loader incidents rearward tractor rollovers rearward tractor rollovers sideways tractor rollovers sideways tractor rollovers falls from tractors falls from tractors tractor runovers tractor runovers caught-between crushing caught-between crushing PTO stub shaft entanglements PTO stub shaft entanglements

Tractor Accidents Are CostlyTractor Accidents Are Costly

Tractor Operator Tractor Operator Responsibilities Responsibilities

There are eight primary There are eight primary responsibilities the safe tractor responsibilities the safe tractor operator must meet whenever operator must meet whenever the tractor is used. They are: the tractor is used. They are:

conducts proper maintenance conducts proper maintenance conducts pre-operation checks conducts pre-operation checks avoids injury-incident avoids injury-incident

situations situations maintains safety features maintains safety features uses tractor as intended uses tractor as intended refuels safely refuels safely starts and stops safely starts and stops safely adjusts the tractor for safety adjusts the tractor for safety

Safe OperationSafe Operation Read and understand the Read and understand the

Operator's Manual(s) Operator's Manual(s) before operating the before operating the equipment. equipment.

Keep your equipment in Keep your equipment in good condition.good condition.

Never start an engine in a Never start an engine in a closed shed or garage.closed shed or garage.

Always keep your PTO Always keep your PTO properly shielded.properly shielded.

Safe OperationSafe OperationThe Rules of Tractor The Rules of Tractor

SafetySafety

Use ROPS and seat belt Use ROPS and seat belt whenever and wherever whenever and wherever applicable. applicable.

Do not wear the seat Do not wear the seat belt when the ROPS is belt when the ROPS is folded.folded.

Safe OperationSafe Operation Use special caution on Use special caution on

slopes, slow down for all slopes, slow down for all turns and stay off the turns and stay off the highway whenever highway whenever possible.possible.

Keep your hitches low and Keep your hitches low and always on the drawbar. always on the drawbar. Otherwise, your tractor Otherwise, your tractor might flip over backwardsmight flip over backwards..

Keep wheels spread wide Keep wheels spread wide

whenever possible.whenever possible.

Learn and use hand signals.

Do not add coolant to the Do not add coolant to the

radiator while the engine is radiator while the engine is hot;hot;

hot coolant can erupt andhot coolant can erupt and

scald.scald.

Safe OperationSafe Operation

Never refuel while the engine Never refuel while the engine is running or hot.is running or hot.

Always fuel your tractor Always fuel your tractor outside and store your fuel outside and store your fuel outside. outside.

• Check the Work AreaCheck the Work Area. . Know in advance where Know in advance where hidden ditches, large rocks, hidden ditches, large rocks, stumps or any other debris is stumps or any other debris is located.located.

Safe OperationSafe Operation Never pop the clutch or Never pop the clutch or

practice unsafe maneuvers.practice unsafe maneuvers.

Never hitch to the axle or Never hitch to the axle or other high point. other high point.

Never attach a post or log to Never attach a post or log to the rear wheels when the the rear wheels when the tractor is stuck in the mud. tractor is stuck in the mud.

Disengage the power takeoff Disengage the power takeoff when it's not in use. when it's not in use.

Safe OperationSafe Operation

Never get off a moving Never get off a moving tractor or leave it with its tractor or leave it with its engine running.engine running.

Keep all children off and Keep all children off and away from your tractor and away from your tractor and its implements at all times.its implements at all times.

Safe OperationSafe Operation

Outfit your equipment with Outfit your equipment with a first aid kit, a small tool a first aid kit, a small tool kit for minor repairs, and a kit for minor repairs, and a fire extinguisherfire extinguisher..

Make it a firm, Make it a firm, unbreakable, no-exceptions unbreakable, no-exceptions rule: rule: NO RIDERS!NO RIDERS!

Keep safety labelsKeep safety labels clean clean and free from obstructing and free from obstructing material.material.

Safe OperationSafe Operation

• Dress ProperlyDress Properly .Well-fitted, .Well-fitted, belted clothing is a must.belted clothing is a must.

• Don't jump off the tractorDon't jump off the tractor• Use the steps and Use the steps and

handholdshandholds, face towards the , face towards the tractor, and watch your step.tractor, and watch your step.

• Steps should be cleanedSteps should be cleaned regularly and kept free of dirt, regularly and kept free of dirt, grease and oil.grease and oil.

Safe OperationSafe Operation• When you When you shut downshut down your your

tractor:tractor:

- Put the PTO lever in - Put the PTO lever in neutral neutral

and lower attachments toand lower attachments to the ground.the ground.

- Always shut off engine, set - Always shut off engine, set the park brake(s) andthe park brake(s) and remove key.remove key.

- Whenever possible, park - Whenever possible, park on level ground. on level ground.

Transport Safety Transport Safety   

• Use an SMV (Slow Moving Use an SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) sign, proper Vehicle) sign, proper clearance flags, lights and clearance flags, lights and warning signalswarning signals

• Be sure the brake pedals Be sure the brake pedals are locked together and are locked together and properly adjusted to assure properly adjusted to assure straight-line stops.straight-line stops.

• Prepare Your Attachments. Prepare Your Attachments. Make sure they are secure, Make sure they are secure, properly mounted. Carry properly mounted. Carry them in the transport them in the transport position.position.

Transport SafetyTransport Safety• Slow down, pull over and let Slow down, pull over and let

the normal traffic pass you.the normal traffic pass you.• Control Your Speed. A Control Your Speed. A

tractor is designed for easy tractor is designed for easy maneuverability at low maneuverability at low speeds, not high speeds.speeds, not high speeds.

• Slow Down on Turns or Slow Down on Turns or Curves. Curves.

• Have the tractor in the Have the tractor in the same gear going downhill same gear going downhill as you would to go up, in as you would to go up, in order to use engine order to use engine

compression for brakingcompression for braking..

Transport SafetyTransport Safety• Never, ever, coast downhill. It will Never, ever, coast downhill. It will

allow the tractor speed to exceed allow the tractor speed to exceed

that for which it was designedthat for which it was designed. . • Know Your Stopping DistanceKnow Your Stopping Distance..

Always leave enough room to Always leave enough room to stop.stop.

• Never use the differential lock Never use the differential lock while in transport. The tractor will while in transport. The tractor will tend to continue in a straight line tend to continue in a straight line when you are attempting to turn.when you are attempting to turn.

  

Tractor Training ProgramTractor Training Program

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

(FLSA) as amended: Covers(FLSA) as amended: Covers

employment in Hazardous employment in Hazardous AgricultureAgriculture

OccupationsOccupations

Tractor Training ProgramTractor Training Program Age 16 minimum for hazardous employment Age 16 minimum for hazardous employment

operating a tractor over 20 PTO horsepower, operating a tractor over 20 PTO horsepower, or connecting or disconnecting an implement or connecting or disconnecting an implement or any of its parts to and from a tractor.or any of its parts to and from a tractor.

Age 16 minimum for operating other listed Age 16 minimum for operating other listed hazardous farm equipmenthazardous farm equipment

Minors 14 or 15 years old who hold Minors 14 or 15 years old who hold certificates of completion of either the certificates of completion of either the tractor operation or machine operation tractor operation or machine operation training program offered by Vocational training program offered by Vocational Agriculture Teachers or Extension Service Agriculture Teachers or Extension Service may work in the occupations for which they may work in the occupations for which they have been trained.have been trained.

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