The leading cause of death for farmworkers between 1992 and 2009 was tractor overturns, accounting for more than 90 deaths annually. A roll bar or roll-over protective structure and seat belt usage could have prevented these deaths. However, in 2006 only 59 percent of tractors used on farms in the U.S. were equipped with these devices. Other tractor-related fatalities involve falls, run-overs, crushes and PTO entanglement.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide employees with the following in relation to tractors:
• a standard roll-over protection structure
• a standard seat belt
• protection from tractor fluid spillage
• protection from sharp surfaces.

The following guidelines should be employed to ensure safe tractor operation:
1. Be sure the tractor is properly serviced. Check lubrication, fuel and water. Check the radiator level when the tractor is cold. If you must check it when hot, use extreme care.

2. Never refuel your tractor while the engine is running. Static electricity, a spark from the ignition system or a hot exhaust can cause the fuel to ignite. To reduce the static electricity problem, ground the tractor with a ground wire or by lowering mounted equipment so it contacts the ground.

3. Always fuel your tractor outside and store your fuel outside. Store fuel at least 40 feet from any building. Keep the area free of weeds or other combustible material.

4. Carry a first aid kit and approved dry chemical extinguisher. Tractors should have at least a five-pound extinguisher.

5. Ensure good ventilation before starting the tractor engine. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is odorless, colorless and deadly.

6. Keep small children away from tractors. Tractors are designed to carry only one person – the driver. Each year small children are killed by falling from the tractor. The chance of being killed is high even when they are allowed to ride on trailing equipment.

7. Keep wheels spread wide whenever possible. A tractor will overturn sideways much more easily if the wheels are close together. When wheels must be moved in for narrow row farming, use extra caution, especially when traveling at higher speeds on roads.

8. Reduce speed before turning. Doubling the speed of a farm tractor quadruples the danger of a side rollover. Centrifugal force tries to keep the tractor in a straight line. If you try to turn at a high rate of speed, the tractor will attempt to go straight rather than turn.

9. Reduce speed when using a loader. A loader in the raised position can increase the possibility of an overturn. Keep the loader as close to the ground as possible. Be alert for ditches, rocks or holes that might cause the tractor to overturn. The center of gravity is affected if the load is kept too high in the air.

10. Stop the engine before getting off the tractor. Operators can be killed by a tractor when the tractor has been left running with the operator off the seat or leaving the cab when it has been put in gear, parked or had the brakes locked.

11. Never hitch to the axle or other high point. Always hitch to the drawbar, take up slack slowly, and never jerk on chains or cables. Broken parts of a chain can act like shrapnel, and a cable can cut the legs from under a person.

Nylon ropes have killed tractor operators and bystanders when the rope broke away from an implement. The stored energy in the rope catapults the rope end into the victim.

Tractors also can upset backwards when pushing or using a front end loader, or when hitched to the front end by chains or cables that pass under the back axle. Keep the hitch as low as possible, preferably 17 inches. Never hitch above 21 inches.

12. Be extremely careful when driving up an incline. A tractor can overturn if the center of gravity moves behind the rear wheels. Try to back up if it’s necessary to get up the incline. If you get caught on a steep incline, back down very slowly and apply the brakes lightly. Weight on the front of the tractor will help.

13. Disengage the power take-off when it’s not in use. Use the power shield whenever equipment is in use. If you do not have a PTO shield, make one – it may save your life.

14. Do not wear loose clothing while operating a tractor. Loose clothing can catch on moving parts and cause an injury or fatality.

15. Keep the tractor in gear when going down hill. This allows the tractor engine to serve as a brake. In Nebraska, it’s unlawful to coast down a hill with the vehicle out of gear. Some tractors may have “free wheeling” in their transmission drive. Make sure this type of transmission is put in direct drive before attempting to use the engine as a brake.

16. Engage the clutch gently, especially when going uphill. “Jackrabbit” starts are dangerous to both the operator and the tractor.

17. Never attach a post or log to the rear wheels when the tractor is stuck in the mud. If the wheels are not free to turn, the tractor can pivot around the axle and upset. Try to back out. If this does not work, get another tractor to pull you out.

18. Follow all traffic rules on open roads. This includes proper lighting, hand signals, right-of-way, etc. Tractors may not use interstate highways.

19. Do not use a tractor for a job it wasn’t designed to do. The tractor was designed as a source of power to do field work. It was not designed for chasing cattle, drag racing or transportation to and from town. PD

Those with specific questions about complying with health and safety regulations can leave a comment below or click here to email Douphrate directly.

Paul Ayers is a professor with a speciality in machine systems at the University of Tennessee.

Dr. David Douphrate is an assistant professor at the University of Texas, School of Public Health. Douphrate conducts research and outreach related to worker health and safety through the High Plains and Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (HICAHS), headquartered at Colorado State University. Douphrate and his HICAHS colleagues conduct research and outreach with dairy producers to improve safe working environments while simultaneously improving dairy productivity and efficiency.

Click a link below to view previous columns by Douphrate and his colleagues:
• Dairy worker safety and health: Chemical hazard communication
• Dairy worker safety and health: Injury and illness recordkeeping
• Dairy worker safety and health: OSHA inspections, citations and penalties
• Dairy worker safety and health: A new column from David Douphrate