Farm safety - machinery

Poorly used or faulty machinery is a major cause of death and injury on farms. Common tractor accidents involve roll-overs, run-overs and unguarded power take-off (PTO) shafts. Other dangerous machinery includes quad or ag bikes (also known as all terrain vehicles, ATVs) and motorbikes, chain and bench saws, harvesters, generators, augers and earth-moving equipment. Farms make up only 10 per cent of Victorian workplaces, but they account for between 25 and 50 per cent of all work-related deaths (fatalities) in any given year.

One in four unintentional farm deaths are caused by unsafe tractor operation. Tractors have a high centre of gravity and can flip and crush the driver if not fitted with a roll-over protection structure (ROPS). Hands, hair and clothing can be caught by unguarded PTO shafts. People can be injured by front-end loaders, falling from a moving tractor or being struck by its wheels.

Machinery accidents can be prevented by keeping the machine in good repair, fitting safety equipment (such as guards, safe access platforms and ROPS on tractors) and operating the machine safely at all times.

Safety measures
General safety suggestions include:

• Read and follow the manufacturers’ instructions for operation.
• Don’t remove or modify safety features.
• Ensure that everyone working on the farm is thoroughly familiar with operating procedures and safety requirements for any machinery they use.
• Fit guards to cover the moving parts of machinery – for example, a PTO guard.
• Make sure that tractors are correctly ballasted or weighted for particular jobs.
• Fit a falling object protective structure (FOPS) on the front-end loader.
• Keep a well-stocked, up-to-date first aid kit in an accessible area.
• Always wear appropriate protective clothing.