Fall harvest safety tips
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EmailSome common sense tips can help prevent injuries on the farm during harvest season.
During the fall harvest season, countless hours will be spent in combines, tractors, trucks and other equipment by farmers and workers who will be transporting large equipment on our roads and highways. It is always a good suggestion to go over safety considerations with all workers to teach or reinforce the importance of safety on the farm, especially for new or inexperienced workers.
Agriculture ranks among the nation’s most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, and farming is one of the few industries in which family members, who often share the work and live on the premises, are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Agricultural Injury Survey, an estimated 893,000 youth under 20 years of age resided on farms in 2014, with about 453,977 youth performing farm work. The Michigan State University Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that between 2011 and 2021, 237 Michigan farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury on the farm resulting in a fatality rate of 22.1 deaths per 100,000 farmers.
Tractor-related incidents were the leading cause of work-related injuries resulting in death for these farmers and farm workers. For non-fatal injuries to farmers and farm workers, between 2015 and 2021, 483 non-tractor machines caused injuries (such as harvesting machines, skid steers and conveyor belts) and 381 tractor-related injuries were treated in Michigan hospitals and emergency departments.
Here are a few safety tips from Michigan State University Extension to consider on your farm as producers prepare for the harvest season:
- There should be an emergency plan in place for all farms.
- Read (or re-review) the operators manual(s).
- Train all operators to safely operate the equipment.
- Install Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs.
- Wear seat belts.
- Have all safety equipment in proper condition and ready to use, including safety glasses, hearing protection, high visibility clothing and respiratory masks/respirators.
- Have ROPS (rollover protective structures) fitted on tractors.
- Keep all guards and shields in place. Check to make sure they are in working order.
- Put equipment in neutral or park, engage parking brake and turn off engine before dismounting. Wait until all mechanisms have stopped moving before attempting to service or unclog a machine.
- Locking hydraulic cylinders or supporting the head prior to working under it is always recommended.
- Limit riders on equipment! Instructional seats are designed for training or diagnosing machine problems.
- Take breaks. Get enough sleep.
- Fatigue, stress, medication, alcohol and drugs cause you to not focus on tasks leading to an injury.
More information
- Farmers and motorists can work together to prevent traffic collisions involving farm equipment – Michigan State University Extension
- Only you can prevent combine fires – Michigan State University Extension
- Prevent injuries and deaths from grain-related incidents – PennState Extension
For more information, contact Michigan State University Extension’s Phil Kaatz at 810-667-0341 or kaatz@msu.edu.
