FARM SAFETY &HEALTH

Safety Essential When Visiting Farm Tractors With ROPS Save Lives
S u p p l e m e n t t o T h e D e l p h o s H e r a l d

SEPTEMBER 2013

2 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety September 2013

Tractors are common to all farm operations. They also are the major cause of death in agriculture today. Tractors are linked to more than half of farm-related deaths, both nationally and in Iowa. The National Safety Council estimates more than 100 people were killed in 2004 while operating a tractor. About half of those deaths were the result of a tractor rollover.

Use tractors with ROPS to save lives

The high death rate associated with tractor rollovers is not a new problem. Since 1970, tractor rollover has been the leading cause of farm operator deaths, according to the National Safety Council. Statistics from tractor rollover injuries show that about five people are killed each year for every 100,000 tractors in operation. The cumulative death toll from tractor rollovers since the development of the tractor is staggering. the operator is not wearing a seat belt. Never use seat belts on a tractor without ROPS. In this case, the operator has no chance of survival because the seat belt will keep the operator in the seat as the tractor rolls over and crushes the operator. It is not certain whether the operator would be thrown clear from the tractor if seat belts were not worn, but that remains the operators only chance of survival. Reduce your rollover risks There are several ways to reduce the possibility of tractor rollovers. However,these safety practices are not a substitute for ROPS. Follow these tips and use seat belts on tractors equipped with ROPS to keep operators safe. Avoid sharp turns and reduce speed when turning. A tractor has a high center of gravity and can tip. Compare the shape of a tractor and a race carrace cars can turn at high speeds because they are low to the road; a tractor cannot turn quickly without overturning because it sits high above the road. Avoid driving on steep embankments, near ditches, and around holes. These areas are prone to rollovers. The ground can give way and the tractor will lose support and roll over. When conditions require operation on steep slopes, always head down slopes and travel backward up slopes. This will place the tractor in a more stable position and reduce rollover risks. Hitch only to a drawbar. Many injuries occur when loads are hitched to the axle hous-

ing or other parts of the tractor. If you have a three-point hitch on your tractor, use it only with implements designed for a three-point hitch. If you attach implements to something higher than a drawbar, you can cause the tractor to roll over

Tractor rollover safety

What can you do?
You can reduce your risk of being injured or killed while operating a tractor. Check your operation for the following items. Identify all tractors in your operation that have ROPS; check for seat belts. Post a reminder on tractors with ROPS for operators to wear a seat belt. Make a long-rangeplan to phase out or retrofit all tractors without ROPS. Identify tasks that would take you over steep embankments, near ditches, around holes, and other areas prone to tractor rollovers. Instruct everyone who operates a tractor in these areas to use only tractors with ROPS and seat belts.

What is ROPS? ROPS, or rollover protective structure, is a cab or frame that provides a safe environment for the tractor operator in the event of a rollover. Also called antiroll bars or ROPS cabs, all are designed to prevent death and minimize injury. However, the first ROPS device was not marketed on new tractors until 1965. Many old tractors used today do not have ROPS. The ROPS frame must pass a series of static or dynamic crush tests. These tests e tand various loads to see if the protective zone around the operator station remains intact in an overturn. The tests are extensive and destroy the rollover protective structure. A homemade bar attached to the tractor axle, or simple sun shades, cannot protect the operator if the tractor overturns. Farm operators should not add their own rollover protection devices to tractors manufactured without ROPS. Without proper design and testing, homemade devices offer a false sense of security that can be more dangerous than operating a tractor without ROPS. The Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers have standards on the design of rollover protective structures. Use seat belts with ROPS ROPS affords some safety during tractor overturns, but operators need more protection. All operators of tractors equipped with ROPS must wear seat belts. Without a seat belt, the operator will not be confined to the protective zone created by the ROPS. During an overturn, the operator of a tractor with ROPS could be thrown from the protected area and crushed by the tractor, or even the rollover protective structure itself, if

New equipment with ROPS In 1985, tractor manufacturers adopted a voluntary standard to sell all tractors with ROPS in place. All new tractors are equipped at the factory with ROPS. TheROPS may be part of the cab structure and may not be visible, but the protection will be there. Tractors made more than 40 years ago without advances in safety technology are operational today. It is estimated that less than one-third of the 4.4 million tractors used for agricultural purposes have ROPS. Older tractors often are used in situations typically associated with tractor rollover injuries, such as mowing the road ditch area, using a front-end loader, and hauling fallen trees. Retrofit older tractors Older tractors can be retrofitted with rollover protective structures. Check with your local dealer for manufacturers, models, and approximate costs of obtaining retrofit ROPS for tractors. Retrofitting can pose a difficult decision because its cost for an older tractor can exceed the machines actual value. However, the true cost is in the lives that could be saved.

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September 2013 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety 3

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4 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety September 2013

Agriculture most hazardous industry in nation

Contrary to the popular image of fresh air and peaceful surroundings, a farm is not a hazard-free work setting. Every year, thousands of farm workers are injured and hundreds more die in farming accidents. According to the National Safety Council, agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation. Health and Safety Hazards on Farms Farm workersincluding farm families and migrant workersare exposed to hazards such as the following: Chemicals/Pesticides Cold Dust Electricity Grain bins Hand tools Highway traffic Lifting Livestock handling Machinery/Equipment Manure pits Mud Noise Ponds Silos Slips/Trips/Falls Sun/Heat Toxic gases Tractors Wells tive equipment, such as seat belts on tractors, and personal protective equipment (such as safety gloves, coveralls, boots, hats, aprons, goggles, face shields) could significantly reduce farming injuries. Medical Care Hospitals and emergency medical care are typically not readily accessible in rural areas near farms.

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High Risk Factors on Farms The following factors may increase risk of injury or illness for farm workers: Age Injury rates are highest among children age 15 and under and adults over 65. Equipment and Machinery Most farm accidents and fatalities involve machinery. Proper machine guarding and doing equipment maintenance according to manufacturers recommendations can help prevent accidents. Protective Equipment Using protec-

How You Can Improve Farm Safety You can start by increasing your awareness of farming hazards and making a conscious effort to prepare for emergency situations includingfires, vehicle accidents, electrical shocks fromequipment and wires, and chemical exposures. Be especially alert to hazards that may affect children and the elderly. Minimize hazards by carefully selecting the products you buy to ensure that you provide good tools and equipment. Always use seat belts when operating tractors, and establish and maintain good housekeeping practices. Here are some other steps you can take to reduce illnesses and injuries on the farm: Read and follow instructions in

equipment operators manuals and on product labels. Inspect equipment routinely for problems that may cause accidents. Discuss safety hazards and emergency procedures with your workers. Install approved rollover protective structures, protective enclosures, or protective frames on tractors. Make sure that guards on farm equipment are replaced after maintenance. Review and follow instructions in material safety data sheets (MSDSs) (See HAZARDOUS page 6)

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Understanding farm safety keeps everyone safe

The nursery rhyme does not state, Old MacDonald had a farm and on this farm there was a bunch of dangerous things. But maybe it should? Here are some other precautions that can be taken when visiting a farm. Farmers perform an essential service, providing food and other products that consumers commonly take for granted. The inner workings of a farm are something to treat with respect. Most of the families who live and work on a farm understand the potential hazards of such an environment. However, individuals visiting a farm may be unaware of these dangers. Understanding farm safety helps keep everyone safe. According to the organization Kids Health, the age groups at greatest risk for injury on farms are children ages 3 to 4 and teenagers ages 13 to 14. Most injuries can be prevented, though, with a little education and precautionary measures. Machinery There are many different forms of machinery on a farm to help keep it working efficiently. These items can pose serious safety risks. Although tractors are the type of farm equipment that causes the most injuries, some adults still think it is safe to allow children to ride along. Injuries that may result from farm machinery include pinching of clothing or parts of the body, where a person may become trapped in the gears or components of equipment; cuts from equipment that shears crops; bruising or cuts from projectiles thrown by mowers or other field equipment; and crushing or trapping injuries from machinery that falls or tips over. Animals Part of the excitement of visiting a farm is seeing and petting the animals. Although many animals may be docile and domesticated, they can still be unpredictable. Animals that are startled by yelling or loud noises also may become restless and dangerous. Children should understand that animals may unintentionally cause injuries. It may be in a horses defense mechanism to kick when it is scared. To avoid such injuries, never approach animals from behind. Also, when baby animals are present, a female may be protective of her brood and go on the defensive. Another inadvertent injury that may occur is from bacteria or viruses from the animals. Animal feces may contain bacteria, and there may be other microorganisms on the animals themselves. It is a smart idea to always wash your hands after handling a farm animal to prevent the spread of disease. * Dont allow children to wander around unsupervised. * Rides on farm equipment should be discouraged. * Before starting machinery, operators should locate children and other guests and clear them from the work area. * Dont allow children near machinery. * Children under the age of 16 should not be allowed to operate any farm vehicles. * Watch for hand tools or other equipment, and keep children away from them. * Do not touch animals unless a farm worker allows it. Then follow his or her instructions. * Dont provoke farm animals or

September 2013 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety 5

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6 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety September 2013

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(Continued from page 4) and on labels that come with chemical products and communicate information on these hazards to your workers. Take precautions to prevent entrapment and suffocation caused by unstable surfaces of grain storage bins, silos, or hoppers. Never walk the grain. Methane gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide can form in unventilated grain silos and manure pits and can suffocate or poison workers or explode. Take advantage of safety equipment, such as bypass starter covers, power take-off master shields, and slow-moving vehicle emblems. The Benefits of Improved Safety and Health Practices Better safety and health practices reduce worker fatalities, injuries, and illnesses as well as associated costs such as workers compensation insurance premiums, lost production, and medical expenses. A safer and more healthful workplace improves morale and productivity. Additional Information on Safety and Health For more information about farm safety, visit OSHAs website at www.osha.gov/ SLTC/agriculturalopera This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs,

policies or standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627. tions, the National Safety Council at www. nsc.org/farmsafe/facts.htm, the Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov/ pesticides/safety/workers/ workers. htm, and the Centers for Disease Control at www. cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/topic.html. In addition, OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available elsewhere on its website at www.osha.gov. OSHA Publications OSHA has an extensive publications program. For a listing of free or sales items, visit OSHAs website at www.osha.gov/pls/publications/ pubindex.list or contact the OSHA Publications Office, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to (202) 693-2498. Contacting OSHA to report an emergency, file a complaint or seek OSHA advice, assistance or products, call (800) 321-OSHA or contact your nearest OSHA regional or area office.

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COUNTRY safety checklist reduces farm family dangers

Safety matters on the farm. Ask any farm family. Equipment with moving parts, unpredictable livestock and large machinery with limited visibility post just some farm dangers. What can farm families do to stay safe? Identify and eliminate hazards, says Eric Vanasdale, COUNTRY Financial senior loss control representative. We visit our clients farms and help them reduce potential dangers, says Vanasdale. Once you recognize the dangers, you can prevent accidents. You can also set rules and train farm employees and family members to think about safety on a daily basis. COUNTRY also distributes Safety Matters in the COUNTRY, a checklist that identifies farm dangers. Because the checklist addresses potential hazards affecting all ages of farm employees and family members, Vanasdale suggests completing it during National Farm Safety Week Sept. 15-21. The theme is Agricultural Health & Safety: A Family Affair. After families answer the checklist questions, they receive a safety score. A no response indicates a danger that should be eliminated. Checklist questions include: Do all vehicles have safety belts that are always used? Are all slow moving vehicle emblems clean and reflective? Does a professional electrician inspect your electrical system every five years? Are children always supervised while performing farm tasks? Does someone know where all farm workers or family members are at any given time? Vanasdale urges farm families to be particularly aware of harvest dangers enhanced by drought conditions. The drought has added stress to farm life. Many families are worried about yields and income, says Vanasdale. Make sure every tractor, combine and truck contains at least one ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher. Teach farm employees and family members

September 2013 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety 7

how to use it. Extremely dry conditions pose an increased possibility of field fires. One accident is one too many. Farm families can enjoy an injury-free harvest if they keep safety at the forefront every day. To obtain copies of agricultural safety checklists, visit countryfinancial.com.

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8 The Delphos Herald Farm Safety September 2013

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