Farming '91, 1991-03-20, Page 18A18. FARMING ’91, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1991.
Farming 91
Tractors number 1 killer in farm workplace
Approximately 40 per cent of all
farm fatalities in Ontario can be
directly or indirectly linked to
tractor use. making it the number
one killer in the farm workplace.
The Farm Safety Association
says it is important to recognize a
farm tractor as nothing more than
an inanimate source of power. As
injury or death can only be caused
when the power is manipulated by
a human operator, it only makes
sense that safe tractor use is a
function of operator knowledge and
skill.
The biggest threat is rollovers,
which account for about one-half of
fatal tractor accidents and are
responsible for many disabling
injuries. Overturns usually are the
result of carelessness or distrac
tion. The chief causes include:
driving faster than conditions war
rant; striking rocks, stumps or
holes; running into ditches; hitch
ing high for extra traction and
improper operation of front-end
loaders. Large round bales and
other overweight loads greatly
increase overturn potential.
To avoid sideways roll: set
wheels at widest spacing possible
for the job at hand, don’t attempt to
cross excessively steep slopes,
watch for depressions and obsta-
cales, match speed to conditions
and loads and don’t let your tractor
bounce, lock brake pedals together
before high speed travel, stay at
least as far away from ditches and
streams as the banks are deep,
4-H council pl
for 'energetic
The new president of the Ontario
4-H council. Di Jaggassar, of
Glengarry county, said that her
organization looks forward to an
“exciting and energetic future,”
following the success of the fledg
ing organization’s first annual
meeting, held in Toronto on Janu
ary 19.
Ginty Jocius, of Ginty Jocius and
Associated of Guelph, was on hand
to present marketing awards his
company has garnered for its “4-H
is 4U” campaign - a campaign
commissioned by the council and
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food to raise the profile of 4-H
in the province. The award was
accepted by Linda Plant, outgoing
Ontario 4-H council president, and
keep a front-end loader bucket as
low as possible during transport.
While rear overturns are less
frequent than sideway rollovers
they are almost alway fatal. In a
backwards tip the tractor can hit
the ground in less than one and a
half seconds after the front tires
begin rising. To avoid this, never
hitch a load higher than the tractor
drawbar, use weights to increase
tractor stability, start forward mo
tion slowly and change speed
gradually, if possible avoid backing
downhill, drive around ditches, not
across them, back your tractor out
when mired in mud. If this won’t
work, the only safe procedure is to
tow the stuck machine out with
another tractor.
Many fatalities are the result of
riders falling from moving tractors,
with children especially often the
victims of these gruesome mis
haps.
Entanglements in rotating
power-take-off (PTO) shafts is a
major cause of tractor related
deaths. Prevent PTO entanglement
by making sure shielding isn’t
missing and is in good repair.
Remember to turn off the engine
and disengage PTO drive before
attempting to unplug or service
machinery.
Other tractor-involved mishaps
include collisions with motor veh
icles or roadside objects, falls while
mounting or dismounting, running
over bystanders, striking overhead
hazards, being struck by flying
objects, broken parts or hydraulic
ans
' future
Cathy Wilson Pinkney, 4-H super
visor, and OMAF appointee to the
council.
The more than 90 delegates from
county and district 4-H associations
across the province w ere presented
with committee reports on the
awards, resources, and marketing
and promotion of 4-H programs in
Ontario. They voted on resolutions
from local associations about futur°
4-H projects, the current awards
system, and age restrictions on
livestock used for 4-H projects.
The Ontario 4-H council was
formed in 1989. and brings togeth
er 4-H leaders and OMAF staff into
an administrative partnership to
promote the personal development
of youth in rural Ontario.
fluid, being crushed by a poorly
supported tractor while doing re
pair work, being burned when fires
erupt during fuelling.
Whatever the accident, most can
be attributed to operator error;.
Preventing these accidents starts
with knowledge and an apprecia
tion for the hazards that might be
encountered.
The operator must become edu
cated on how the tractor works and
skilled in tractor operation by
spending hours at the wheel.
However, even the most experi
enced driver can have an accident
as familiarity can lead to careless
ness and a seasoned operator may
push too hard to finish a job during
good weather. People differ in
ability but all can make mistakes or
be subject to oversight or failure
caused by work or personal life.
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Some human factors often impli
cated in traffic accidents include
illness, poor vision, alcohol, age,
anger, psychological distress, ig
norance or safety rules or an
unwillingness to follow recom
mended procedures.
Tractors should be properly bal
lasted. implements correctly hitch
ed, and all protective equipment in
good condition. Operators should
make sure machines are in top
running order as breakdowns in
crease the potential for mishap.
Some safety equipment is stan
dard on late model tractors while
other components should be con
sidered. Rollover protective struc
tures (ROPS) seat belts and shield
ing are key ingredients to safety
and may be life savers.
Good lighting makes night work
easier and may help avoid mishap.
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Environmental conditions such as
weather and visibility may mean
some changes in operating proce
dures.
For young drivers or ‘green’
employees training is vital. They
should be shown how the tractor
works and read the owner’s man
ual. Supervision is necessary until
they are competent and safety
conscious. The Farm Safety Asso
ciation, county extension office or
farm equipment dealer can help
with tractor safety training.
While accidents normally only
happen as a result of an operator’s
action or inaction, machines and
working environments can increase
the danger. The Farm Safety
Association feels that being alert to
hazards and knowing how to re
spond can lessen the chances of
fatal or injurious mishaps.