Ag Safety and Health Springtime Preparations

Lighting and Marking for Travel on Public Roads

Special precautions must be taken when moving tractors and equipment on public roadways. Most agricultural equipment travels at less than 25 mph, while other motor vehicles travel at much higher speeds, and they underestimate the braking time needed to avoid a collision. Most states require a slow-moving emblem (SMV) on the back of all tractors, towed implements, and self-propelled implements. Guidelines and recommendations were developed for the lighting and marking of farm equipment that travels on public roadways. For a complete breakdown of lighting and marking requirements in Pennsylvania, visit the Farm Equipment Safety on Public Roads article by Penn State Ag Safety and Health.

Youth Workers

Are you planning to hire youth to work at your farm operation? If so, are you aware of the U.S. Department of Labor's Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture (Ag HO)? Since 1969, the U.S. Department of Labor has designated many agricultural tasks as hazardous to youth under 16. With certain exemptions, the employment of youth under 16 for tasks that require operating a tractor or machinery is illegal unless the youth are certified. By completing a certification program, 14- and 15-year-old youth may legally operate farm tractors and powered machinery for hire, which they otherwise would not be allowed to operate under the U.S. Department of Labor's AgHO. Learn more about the certification through the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program.

Train Your Workers

Before you start your busy spring, take time to provide your workers with training on all aspects of the farm operation. Training topics can include the location of first aid kits and emergency contact information, safety protocols around equipment (e.g., turn off the tractor before doing any maintenance, etc.), proper clothing for specific jobs (e.g., no flip flops, no loose-fitting clothing around PTO, etc.), and daily pre-operational checks for tractors and equipment. Consider organizing a safe tractor operation workshop for your workers. If you need an outline for a workshop for your employees, contact the Ag Safety and Health team at agsafety@psu.edu to receive a copy of our guide.

Pre-Operational Checks

Winter and early spring are ideal times to focus on equipment maintenance, but daily checks are just as important before you ever start your tractor. Performing a simple pre-operational check can help prevent costly repairs, unexpected downtime, injuries, and unnecessary frustration. Learn what to look for and how to make these checks part of your routine by reviewing Pre-Operational Checks for Tractors.

Another benefit of keeping your equipment in the best possible working condition is reducing exposure to arm-hand vibration and whole-body vibration (WBV). WBV occurs when your body absorbs the shaking or vibration transmitted by operating equipment and can contribute to discomfort, fatigue, and long-term health concerns such as back and neck pain, headaches, reduced grip strength, and muscle fatigue.

The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health recommends the following strategies to help reduce exposure to vibration:

• Equipment maintenance – Keep equipment in good working order, including proper inflation of tires and timely replacement of worn components.

• Seating – Use a well-maintained seat with appropriate suspension and adjust it to fit the operator. Replace damaged or worn seat cushions and suspension systems.

• Posture – Maintain a neutral posture while operating equipment and try to minimize leaning forward when driving a tractor.

• Terrain and speed – Slow down when traveling over rough or uneven terrain to reduce the amount of vibration transmitted to the operator.

• Breaks – Take a 2–3-minute break every 30 minutes, when possible, to give your body time to recover from vibration exposure.

You may feel that you don’t have time to take breaks, but incorporating short movement or stretch breaks into farming tasks can improve productivity and reduce downtime. Research consistently shows that scheduled breaks help prevent fatigue, reduce injury risk, and help workers stay efficient and alert throughout the day.

PTO Guarding

The Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft transfers mechanical power from the tractor to an implement. This transfer of power is efficient but also presents an entanglement hazard that could result in serious injury or death. Preventative steps in reducing a PTO entanglement incident include the following:

• Keep all components of PTO systems shielded and guarded. You can purchase PTO guards from the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health.
• Disengage the PTO and shut off the tractor before dismounting to clean, repair, service, or adjust machinery.
• You should regularly test driveline guards by spinning them to ensure that is shaft is not stuck.
• Always walk around tractors and machinery instead of stepping over a rotating shaft.
• Always use the driveline recommended for your machine. Never switch drivelines among different machines.
• Position the tractor's drawbar properly for each machine used to help prevent driveline stress and separation on uneven terrain and during tight turns.
• Reduce PTO shaft abuse by observing the following: avoid tight turns that pinch rotating shafts between the tractor and machine; keep excessive telescoping to a minimum; engage power to the shaft gradually; and prevent the over-tightening of slip clutches on PTO-driven machines.
• Be sure the PTO driveline is securely locked onto the tractor PTO stub shaft.
• Keep universal joints in phase. (If unfamiliar with this term, check the operator manual or talk with a farm implement dealer.)

Manure Storage and Application Safety

Spring is the prime time of the year to apply manure, but manure gas is invisible and dangerous. For example, hazardous levels of hydrogen sulfide gas can be released during manure agitation, even with open-air lagoons, and can lead to the sudden loss of consciousness. Here are simple steps to follow when working around manure:

• Ensure that anyone who needs to be near manure-storage structures is aware of the potential hazards, including the effects of different gases.
• Humans cannot smell deadly manure gases.
• In particular, hydrogen sulfide offers its "rotten egg" smell at low but unhealthy concentrations, but we cannot smell it at deadly concentrations. Because this gas is heavier than air, hydrogen sulfide will stay or flow downward.
• During manure agitation, prevent access to low-lying areas next to the structures and consider a buffer zone of at least 20 feet around the structure.
• Keep children away from hazardous farm operations, as even low concentrations of toxic gas can harm them.
• Bystanders and nonessential workers should stay clear during agitation and manure pump-out operations.
• Be aware that dangerous levels of toxic gases can push up through slotted floors into animal housing when agitating manure storages located below animal living areas. Ensure these areas are well-ventilated before and during agitation. In some cases, people and animals may need to be removed.
• If you need to be near agitated spaces, it is recommended that a portable gas detector is worn to receive an early warning if toxic gas is present. These detectors are relatively inexpensive and sound an audible alarm upon detection of dangerous levels.

To learn more, read Manure Gas is Invisible and Dangerous, but Safety is Simple and Gypsum-Bedding andManure-Storage Gas Emissions Additional Resources.

Reducing the risk of injury and death on the farm is important because agricultural owners, operators, and workers are so vital to our communities. Have a safe and successful spring season at your farm operation!

Sources

Fethke, N. (n.d.) Musculoskeletal symptoms among farmers. Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health.

Fethke NB, Schall MC, Merlino LA, Chen H, Branch CA, Ramaswamy M.  Whole-body vibration and trunk posture during operation of agricultural machinery.  Annals of Work Exposures and Health.  2018, 62(9): 1123-1133.