Safety on the Farm:

Haying Equipment and

Ergonomics

Bob Schultheis

Natural Resource Engineering Specialist

Webster County Cattle Producers Meeting

Marshfield, MO

April 9, 2015

Safety Topics

• Tractors & farm machinery

• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

• Chain saws

• Animals

• Hand and power tools

• Pesticides

• Respiratory hazards

• Water supply

• Grain storage 2

3

Types of Agricultural Risk

1. Production risk

– Weather, pests, equipment breakdowns, etc.

2. Marketing risk

– Uncertainty in the market for your product

3. Financial risk

– Ability to pay the farm’s cash obligations in a timely

manner (liquidity) and protect or grow your equity

(solvency)

4. Legal risk

– Possibility of being sued, fined or penalized

5. People risk (a.k.a. human resources risk)

– The four D’s – death, divorce, disability & disagreement

4

Responsibilities Under OSHA Act

• A farmer who employs one or more persons has….

– To comply with the agricultural safety standards;

– To comply with record keeping and other reporting

responsibilities, such as reporting accidents, posting of a

citation, etc.; and

– To comply with the general duty clause

• which states that every employer must furnish each employee a place

of employment free from all recognized hazards causing or likely to

cause death or serious injury

• Immediate family members are not covered by the act

• Does not prevent personal injury lawsuit from being

filed against farmer on behalf of the injured

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What is a Hazard?

• A hazard is anything that could hurt you or make you sick

Cut you Trip you Burn you Crush you

Hurt your

hearing

Hurt your

eyes

Make you

sickCause you

pain

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Farm Hazard Assessment 1

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Farm Hazard Assessment 2

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U.S. Statistics - Agriculture

• 1,202,000 full-time + 1,978,000 part-time workers

employed in production agriculture (U.S. Ag Census, 2012)

• One U.S. farmer produces food and fiber for 155 people (American Farm Bureau, 2009)

• Each day, 243 agricultural workers suffer lost-work-time-

injuries; 5% result in permanent impairment

• Slips & falls are the leading cause of farm-related injuries

• Unlike most industries, farm family members are also at risk for injuries, illnesses & deaths

Reference: www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf

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U.S. Death Rates by Industry (BLS, 2013)

Reference: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf

Note: Fatal injury rates exclude workers under the age of 16 years, volunteers, and resident military.

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U.S. Annual Statistics - Agriculture• 590+ farmers & ranchers die in work-related

accidents

• 88,700+ ag workers suffer disabling injuries

from work-related accidents (under-reported)

• 115+ youth die on farms (34% are age 16-19),

most as

– Innocent bystanders

– Passengers on farm equipment

• 17% of all farm injuries are caused by animals

• Over one-third of farm tractors have no ROPS

with seat belts

11

Did You Know That….

• The fatality rate for farmers is 700% higher than

for other American workers?

• Tractors are the leading cause of death on farms?

• The most frequent causes of tractor-related

deaths are side and rear overturns?

• 80% of deaths caused by rollovers happen to

experienced farmers?

12

Did You Know That….

• 1 in 7 farmers involved in a tractor overturn is

permanently disabled?

• 7 out of 10 farms will go out of business within a

year of a tractor overturn fatality?

• When used with a seatbelt, rollover protective

structures (R0PS) are 99% effective in preventing

injury or death in the event of an overturn?

13

Farmers’ Perceptions

• Inconvenience

• "Never happen to me"

• Independence

• No reward

• Added cost

• Number of hazards

• Habits

• Self-image

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Errors = Accidents

• Forgot something

• Took a shortcut

• Took a calculated risk

• Ignored a warning

• Used unsafe practices

• Was preoccupied

• Didn’t see hazard

15

Common Agricultural Hazards• Equipment (tractors, machinery, ATVs, mowers)

• Terrain (slips & falls)

• Ergonomics (lifting, repetitive trauma)

• Noise (tractors, chain saws, shop equipment)

• Respiratory (dusts, molds, toxic gasses)

• Chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, fuels)

• Animals (temperment, handling facilities)

• Biologicals (vet medicines, zoonoses)

• Stress & fatigue (lose concentration & focus)

• Skin exposures (sun, heat, chemicals, microbes)

16

Missouri Fatal Farm Accidents

Farm Machinery

80%Overturns

60%

Tractors

75%

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Youth Learning to Drive

OperatorAge

Frequency(Accidents per

Million Hours of Use)

10-14 43.0

15-24 9.6

25-44 4.5

45-64 5.6

65+ 29.7

Tractor Accident Rate(Michigan & Ohio)

65+

45-64

25-44

15-24

5-14

1-4

Tractor Accidents

3%

Age

16%

19%

29%

28%

5%

18

Child Farm Safety

• Children can be exposedto dangerous situations24 hours a day on the farm

• The farm is both a workand home environmentfor many families

• Without a separation between the two environments, children can be exposed to tremendous risks

Photo credit: Nikki Fox - AP

19

Set Up Safety Rules

1. Designate safe play areas

2. Determine other areasthat might attract children

3. Identify dangers with children

4. Be a role model for safe practicesPhoto credit: http://nasdonline.org

Photo credit: http://nasdonline.orgPhoto credit: http://nasdonline.org

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1. Designate Safe Play Areas

• Identify locations where children can play with minimal adult supervision

• Designated areas protect children by isolating them from farm work

• Fencing can help to reinforce the division between work and play

• Provide appropriate play items so that the area is more enticing than the farmstead

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2. Determine Other Attractions

• Discuss with children where they like to play on the farm and why

• This will help you to identify potential problems and help you to explain why some of these areas are off-limits and dangerous

• Use lots of examples of how children can be injured in your explanation

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3. Identify Dangers with Children

• Once the play area has been established, walk with your children through the farming operation and point out potential hazards

• Explain what makes these areas dangerous

• Tour should include machinery and equipment, livestock pens, fields, farm buildings, grain and storage areas, and workshop

23

Machinery & Equipment

• This area is most dangerous when tractors and other machines are in operation

• Adults may not be able to see or hear others in area

• Children should never enter areas where machinery is in operation unless supervised, or machinery is turned off

24

Livestock

• Children are often fascinated by livestock and may perceive them to be as familiar as stuffed animals to be played with

• Children might not understand or perceive the subtle signs an animal will exhibit just before attacking

• The average difference in body weight between a child and an average farm animal makes crushing injuries common

25

Farm Buildings / Workshop

• Confined spaces such as silage structures can hold a buildup of toxic gases

– Smaller amounts of these toxins are needed to cause injury to children than adults

• Workshops and storage areas contain hand tools, chemicals (pesticides, oils, cutting fluids), electrical outlets, sharp or hot items

4. Be a Role Model for

Safe Practices

26

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Dangers of Used Equipment• Are operating manuals included?

• Are shield and guards in place?

– PTO master shield, starter solenoid cover,

steering components

• Is the equipment in decent condition?

– No narrow front end

– Slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblems, working lights

• Is tractor equipped with a

Roll-Over Protective Structure

(ROPS) and seat belt

– Required since Oct. 1976

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Prepare Yourself

• Read the operator’s manual

• Consider training from one experienced

with the equipment you are using

• Good physical & mental condition

• No medications or alcohol

• Proper protective gear

Let’s test your reaction time!

29

Know Your Equipment

Read the owner’s manual prior to equipment use

30

Heed “Signal Words”

31

Learn Basic Hand Signals 1

32

Learn Basic Hand Signals 2

33

Center of Gravity Affects Stability

34

Carry Loads as Low as Possible

35

Ballast According to Load

Check owner’s

manual for

recommended

ballast weights

and locations

36

Rear Overturns

85% of rear overturns result in death

37

Anatomy of a Rear Overturn 1

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Anatomy of a Rear Overturn 2

Anatomy of a Rear Overturn 3

39

40

Hitch It Low…Pull It Slow

Always hitch below axle of towing tractor

41

Roll-Over Protective Structures

2-Post ROPS 4-Post ROPS

42

“Weather Cab” – Not a ROPS

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Stay in the ROPS “Zone of Protection”

Foldable 2-Post ROPS

Photo credit: iowafarmertoday.com/content/articles/2006/09/15/top_stories/02rops.jpgUse of ROPS and seatbelt are 99% effective

in preventing deaths due to tractor overturns.

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Speed Causes Overturns

3X speed = 9X centrifugal force

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Using Brakes on Road Travel

Use auxiliary brakes on towed equipment if it weighs more than towing vehicle

46

Preventing Tractor Upsets on Slopes

47

Keep Weight on Uphill Side

48

What is a Power-Take-Off (PTO)?

• The PTO provides a means of transmitting power between a tractor and another piece of farm machinery

• A few examples of PTO-driven equipment:

– Hay balers

– Rotary cutters

– Sickle mowers

– Forage blowers

– Irrigation pumps

– Generators

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Unguarded PTO Shafts are Deadly

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Reaction Time vs. Distance

Distance Traveled in Feet

Time (sec.)

PTO @ 540 rpm

PTO @

1000 rpm

Tractor @

20 mph

Object Thrown by 21" Mower

Chain Saw @ full

throttle

0.3 2.1 3.9 9 89 20

0.5 3.5 6.5 15 156 33

0.7 4.9 9.2 21 218 46

1.0 7.1 13.1 29 312 66

Chain moves at 40-55 MPH(60-80 feet per second = 600 teeth per sec.)

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PTO Entanglement Demo

52

PTO Entanglement Slow Motion

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Check Bearings on Shielded Shafts

54

Fix/Replace Damaged & Lost Shields

Do not use

master shield

as a step

Install cover on

PTO shaft when

not in use

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PTO Safety Rules

• Keep all PTO guards and shields in place

• Wear snug-fitting clothes; tie back long hair

• Never hook 540-rpm equipment to a 1,000-rpm PTOor vice versa

• Never engage the PTO with the machine engine shut off

• Never operate PTO shafts at extreme angles

• Be sure that PTO spinner shields rotate freely at all times

• Be sure PTO is disengaged before starting power source

• Do not step over an operating PTO

• Disengage all power and shut off equipmentbefore servicing

56

Beware Pressure of Hydraulics

Pressure can exceed

10,000 psi. It only

takes 1,200 psi to

inject oil through skin

57

Checking Hydraulics for Leaks

Pass cardboard

along hoses to

locate oil leaks

58

Balers Have Many Danger Zones

Turn off equipment before service or repair

59

Haying Equipment Safety Rules 1

• General

– Read the operator’s manual (again)

– Keep alert - drink plenty of liquids, eat regular meals,get enough sleep, take breaks

– Replace broken or worn parts

– Make sure all guards and shields are in place

– Always disengage PTO, shut off tractor engine and pocket ignition key before dismounting to service or adjust the equipment

– Avoid rushed movements when working close to sharp edges

– Always lubricate sprockets and chains when the machine is turned off

– Be prepared for a fire with 10-lb. Class ABC fire extinguisher on all tractors, charged and in working order

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Haying Equipment Safety Rules 2

• Mowers– Wait until all cutter bars, reels, or conditioning rollers have stopped

moving before servicing

– Ensure proper clearance between crimping rollers on mower conditioner

• Square balers– Wait for flywheel to stop before servicing

• Round balers– Make sure twine is properly threaded, twine arm is adjusted, and in

good working condition. Do not feed twine by hand into the baler

– Always lock and block the baler’s rear gate if you must be underneath it

• Forage wagons– Stay clear of the discharge conveyor while operating

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Install Guards on Exposed Drives

Auger Injury to Leg

63

Main Causes of Mower Accidents

• Driving too fast

• Operating unsafely on uneven ground

• Operating a mower that has not been mechanically

maintained

• Pushing the mower beyond safe operating limits

64

Operating the Tractor Mower

Mow across slopes with side-mount, offset & sicklebarmowers

Photo credit: counties.cce.cornell.edu/rensselaer/Agriculture/images/P1010096.JPG

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Operating the Tractor Mower

Mow up and down slopes with rear-mount, pull-type & wing-type mowers

Photo credit: hometown.aol.com/dlwilliams97/images/2615batwing.jpg

66

NO

Riders!!

67

Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) Signs

How not to use SMV sign!

Only legal use is on equipment

moving at 25 MPH or less on

public highway

2-6 ft.

© Bob Schultheis

68

Keep SMV Signs in Good Repair

69

Make Sure Fire Extinguisher Works

Univ. of MO Tractor Clinic

found 50% were not working

70

Keep Lights On During Road Travel

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Be Aware of Reduced Closure Times

27 seconds

Less than 7 seconds

400 feet45 MPH 55 MPH

Car approaching car

400 feet55 MPH

Car approaching tractor15 MPH

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Hearing Loss Indicators

� Do you have trouble hearing when two or more people are talking?

� Do you have trouble hearing over the telephone?

� Do others complain you turn the TV volume up too high?

� Do you strain to understand conversations?

� Do you have trouble hearing if the background is noisy?

� Do you frequently ask people to repeat themselves?

� Do you think people mumble frequently?

Rule of Thumb:

If you need to raise your voice to be heard an arm’s length

away, the noise is loud enough to damage your hearing.

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Tractor = 85-100 dB Sound Level

Duration(hours/day)

Sound Level(dBA)

8 90

4 95

2 100

1 105

1/2 110

1/4 or less 115

Source: OSHA Noise Standard

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Wear Appropriate Hearing Protection 2

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Ergonomics

• Ergonomics is the study of efficiency in working environments, matching workers and job conditions to avoid injuries

• Preventing pain or injuries caused by:

– Working in a stooped position

– Carrying heavy weights in awkward positions

– Kneeling often

– Working with arms above shoulder level

– Moving hands and wrists repetitively

– Vibration from farm equipment

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Ergonomic Guidelines – Hand Work

• Avoid placing needed tools or other items above shoulder height

• Position items that are used often within 17” of the worker’s body

• Alternate repetitive work with a low-repetition task to allow recovery

• Provide seated jobs to reduce the strain on lower back & legs

• Alternate sitting, standing and walking jobs

• Allow adequate clearances for feet and knees, so workers can get close to the work and avoid reaching

• Provide floor mats for standing work stations to reduce fatigue

• For standing work, use the proper work station height

– Men: 40” to 43” for light work, 36” to 39” for heavy work

– Women: 37” to 39” for light work, 33” to35” for heavy work

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Ergonomic Guidelines – Hand Tools

• When tools require force, handle size should allow the worker to grip all the way around the handle so that the forefinger and thumb overlap by 3/8”

– Handle diameter of 1-3/8” for small hands to 2-1/8” for large hands, with an average of 1-3/4”

• Cover handles with smooth, slip-resistant material (plastic or rubber).

• Dual-handled tools (like shears or pliers)

– Handle length of at least 4” and preferably 5”

– Spring return to maintain an open position

– Handles that are almost straight without finger grooves

– Handle diameter large enough for small overlap of thumb and fingers

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Ergonomic Guidelines - Lifting

• Keep lifts between hand level and shoulder level. Avoid lifts

from the floor or over shoulder level

• Provide handles on containers

• Redesign loads so they can be lifted close to the body

• Provide dollies, pallet trucks, or utility carts for objects that have to be carried more than a few feet. Provide roller conveyors for heavy bags or boxes that are handled often

• Keep bag or box weight below 50 pounds

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Ergonomic Guidelines – Stooped Work

• Redesign the job to avoid stooped work

– Attach long handles to tools

– Provide stools

• If stooped work is required, provide employees with other short tasks that require walking or sitting, to break up the amount of time spent in stooped position

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Ergonomic Guidelines – Vehicle Use

• Reduce whole body vibration by equipping tractors and other vehicles with suspension seats that have appropriate vibration-damping characteristics

• Use motor vehicle seats with good seat positioning and lumbar support

Anti-vibration gloves

Grammer Incorporated

ergonomic replacement seat

and suspension system

AgrAbility National Resources

� National AgrAbility Projectwww.agrability.org

� Assistive Technology Databasewww.agrability.org/toolbox

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Summary

• You are the “safety director”

for your farm

• Learn CPR and first aid

• Read & follow your owner’s

manuals

• Do a regular safety hazard walk-around

• Get safety guides from your county University of

Missouri Extension Centeror on the Web at extension.missouri.edu/publications

Resources on the Web

• This presentation and related resourcesextension.missouri.edu/webster/presentations.aspx

• Missouri AgrAbility Projectagrability.missouri.edu

• eXtension (access all the land-grant universities in the U.S.)www.extension.org

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Robert A. (Bob) Schultheis

Natural Resource Engineering Specialist

Webster County Extension Center

800 S. Marshall St.

Marshfield, MO 65706

Voice: 417-859-2044

Fax: 417-468-2086

E-mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu

Web: extension.missouri.edu/webster

Program Complaint InformationTo file a program complaint you may contact

any of the following:

University of Missouri

� MU Extension AA/EEO Office109 F. Whitten Hall, Columbia, MO 65211

� MU Human Resources Office130 Heinkel Bldg, Columbia, MO 65211

USDA

� Office of Civil Rights, DirectorRoom 326-W, Whitten Building14th and Independence Ave., SWWashington, DC 20250-9410

University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and

applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color,

religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Questions??