Kelly Nichols, Agriculture Agent Associate
University of Maryland Extension, Frederick County
The National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, a report released by Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that in 2017 across the United States, 258 fatalities occurred on farms. Of those, 103 involved a farm tractor. Before the rush of spring activities starts on the farm, take the time to read the farm safety tips below and review them with your family and employees. A little bit of time now could prevent an injury or save a life later.
Teach Youth About Farm Safety: Our youth are the next generation of farmers, and it is important to teach them about farm safety. Whether youth are playing or working on the farm, make them aware of the potentially dangerous places on the farm such as manure pits and grain bins. Take the time to review how to operate equipment before putting them on it. If livestock are on the farm, teach children how to handle animals and behave around them. Develop an emergency plan so that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety has many resources for youth and adults on farm safety. Visit their website at www.cultivatesafety.org.
Tractor Safety: The Progressive Agriculture Foundation reports that 44% of tractor-associated deaths are related to rollovers. Make sure your tractors are equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS); this will provide a safe environment for the driver in the event of a rollover. Drive on the flattest ground whenever possible. If pulling a side-mounted implement, keep it on the uphill side of the tractor.
Do not allow extra riders on the tractor; they could easily fall off and be seriously injured. One seat equals one person in the tractor. When getting off a tractor, do not jump. Clothing could become caught on the tractor, and incorrect landings can result in injury.
Keep power take-off (PTO) shields in place. Put a slow moving vehicle emblem (the orange triangle with the red outline) and lights on all equipment, especially if the equipment will be driven on the road. Perform routine maintenance to ensure all equipment is working properly, including cleaning the windshields for clear visibility.
When taking equipment out on the roads, use the slow moving vehicle emblem, lights, and reflector tape to ensure that other drivers can see you. Keep these visibility aides clean and replace them when faded or broken. Avoid major roads during rush hour. Install extra mirrors on equipment if not already present. This will help you be more aware of other vehicles around you. Turn on your headlights, but turn off the rear spotlights while on the road. The rear spotlights can be mistaken for headlights in the distance. Use turn signals or hand signals to indicate which way you are turning.
ATV Safety: Most farms have some type of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or utility vehicle to travel around the farm. While it is fun to drive ATVs around the farm, they are not a toy. ATV incidents result from loss of control of the vehicle, rollovers, operators being thrown from the vehicle, colliding with a tree or other object, not wearing a helmet or other protective equipment, and inexperienced operators. Slow down, drive carefully, and wear a helmet and sturdy shoes. Never carry a passenger; the extra weight will compromise the operator’s ability to steer and control the ATV. ATVs were not designed to be driven on hard surfaces; never ride them on public roads. Since ATVs are lower to the ground, use lights, reflectors, and flags to increase visibility around the farm.
