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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2000-03-08, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2000. Farm Safety Means Farm Safely SNELL FEED & SUPPLIES LTD. Serving North Huron... • Grain Elevator Services • Farm Supplies & Hardware • Livestock Feeds Westfield 523-9501 HURON TROY BILT TRACTOR BOLENS ___________TORO 5 r ’ Tractor & Lawn Equipment SALES, PARTS and SERVICE Blyth 523-4244 1-800-265-9002 Exeter 235-1115 "We're very big on service" USE ROPS AND WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT! FACT One in five work-related farm fatalities are caused by tractor rollovers. FACT Deaths caused by tractor rollovers are preventable by installing a rollover protective structure (ROPS) and wearing a seat belt. FACT ROPS won't prevent a tractor rollover, but it will improve your chances of survival. Each year an average of 118 people are killed and another 1,727 are seriously injured on Canadian farms. Reports published by the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program have established that working with tractors and other self- propelled equipment remains the number one cause of death and injury to Canadian farmers. Of the tractor and self-propelled equipment fatalities, runovers are the number one cause; followed by unspecified rollovers, sideways rollovers and rear overturns as the second, third and fourth highest causes. Collectively, rollovers account for almost half of farm fatalities. These incidents are usually a result of operator fatigue or distractions, and their fatal outcome is entirely preventable by using ROPS and a seat belt. USE ROPS Numerous tractors without a ROPS are still in use, but these are usually older models, or they have had their protective structures removed. ROPS are available as retrofits for virtually every tractor manufactured. Retrofitting can pose a difficult decision because the cost for an older tractor can exceed the machine's actual value. However, not having ROPS can cost you your life. Check with your local implement dealer for more information about retrofitting ROPS. National Farm Safety Week March 8 to 15, 2000 "National Farm Safety Week is all about getting farmers and their families to think about how they can protect themselves from what is often needless injury on their farms." Never try to construct your own ROPS as there are too many variables in mounting and metal strength to design a rollover protection system that is guaranteed to protect you. In addition to having a certified rollover protective structure, a seat belt is a necessity. Without a seatbelt, the operator may be flung from the safety of the ROPS into an area where the tractor may crush him or her. ROLLOVERS / Equip the tractor with a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) and a seatbelt - USE IT. / Always slow down when turning / Keep side-mounted equipment on the uphill side of the tractor / Make uphill turns very slowly, and turn downhill if stability becomes uncertain. / Shift to the lowest gear that will be needed before beginning the slopb - don't change gears on the slope. / When traveling downhill, shift to a lower gear to let the engine and transmission reduce speeds. ✓ Set the wheels at the widest spacing possible for the job. / Steer clear of ditches, streams, and steep hills. / Match speed to conditions and loads - don’t let your tractor bounce. / Lock brake pedals together before high speed travel - slow down before turning. / Keep a front-end loader implement as low as possible during transport. / Use ballast when required. / Use rear-view mirrors if you need to keep an eye on rear attachments or loads. Operators twisting to look over their shoulder can cause the tractor to swerve abruptly. / When traveling on roads, be sure the tractor and implement have adequate lighting and are equipped with a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign. REAR OVERTURNS A rear overturn generally happens too fast for the operator to react. It only takes three-quarters of a second to reach the point of no return. Excessive throttle use, or applying too much power to restrained rear axle, can cause the front end of the tractor to lift off the ground. As the front-end lifts, it gains momentum and the tractor flips over. Without a ROPS and a seat belt, the operator will likely be crushed. / Equip the tractor with a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) and a seat belt - USE IT! / Hitch a load only to the tractor drawbar - no higher. ✓ Use weight to increase tractor stability. / Start forward motion slowly and change speed gradually. Insurance Brokers Inc. /Call, Compare I ive • FARM •AUTO • BUSINESS • HOME WINGHAM 357-2851 CLINTON 482-9357 1-800 « \ http://www. 8 Huron Street Clinton • LIFE UN 482-9357 —1-361-1072 « I ww.paroy.on.ca gg / McKILLOP MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY • FARM • URBAN • AUTO • COMMERCIAL 91 Main St. S., Seaforth 527-0400 1-800-463-9204 Fax: 527-2777 WINGHAM 357-3435 Blyth Fire Department The tractor is the number one killer on the farm. In Canada, between 1990 and 1996, tractor rollovers accounted for 146 farm fatalities and runovers for 70 fatalities. Runovers were also the cause of death for 31 Canadian farm children (age 0-14). Use safe practises and you'll reduce the chances of tractor rollovers, overturns and runovers. Blyth 523-4211 Serving Huron, Bruce County & surrounding area for over a century Specializing in Farm, Residential, Auto and Commercial Insurance Contact us at 1-800-265-5595 for your area representative The Bank for all your business and personal financial needs Joy Stewart • Brussels • 887-6521 FARM SAFETY ASSOCIATION WHEN STRESS AND SAFETY COMPETE - YOU LOSE! There is only one solution to tractor fatalities involving riders: PERMIT NO RIDERS Runovers by farm tractors are a major source of fatal and non-fatal injury on Canadian farms. Between 1990-1996, tractor runovers accounted for 11% of work-related farm fatalities and 8% of farm machinery injuries requiring hospitalization. Safe Farming is Smart Farming Huron Farm Safety Assoc. 519-482-5031 Fax 519-482-7554