Farm Safety
Contrary to the popular image of fresh air and peaceful surroundings, a farm is not a hazard-free work setting.
Every year, thousands of farm workers are injured and hundreds more die in farming accidents. According to the National Safety Council, agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation.
How You Can Improve Farm Safety
You can start by increasing your awareness of farming hazards and making a conscious effort to prepare for emergency situations including fires, vehicle accidents, electrical shocks from equipment and wires, and chemical exposures. Be especially alert to hazards that may affect children and the elderly.
Minimize hazards by carefully selecting the products you buy to ensure that you provide good tools and equipment. Always use seat belts when operating tractors, and establish and maintain good housekeeping practices. Here are some other steps you can take to reduce illnesses and injuries on the farm:
Read and follow instructions in equipment operator’s manuals and on product labels. Inspect equipment routinely for problems that may cause accidents. Discuss safety hazards and emergency procedures with your workers. Install approved rollover protective structures, protective enclosures, or protective frames on tractors. Make sure that guards on farm equipment are replaced after maintenance. Review and follow instructions in material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and on labels that come with chemical products and communicate information on these hazards to your workers. Health and Safety Hazards on Farms
Farm workers including farm families and migrant workers are exposed to hazards such as the following table.
Health and Safety Hazards
0Potential Effect or Injury
Orthman Manufacturing, Inc. does not limit the potential effects or injuries nor prevention measures to those listed above. They are provided solely
as a guideline to making your farm life safer. Always consult your Owner/Operators Manual for specific tool and equipment safety requirements.
High Risk Factors on Farms
The following factors may increase risk of injury or illness for farm workers:
Age – Injury rates are highest among children age 15 and under and adults over 65. Equipment and Machinery – Most farm accidents and fatalities involve machinery. Proper machine guarding and doing equipment maintenance according to manufacturers’ recommendations can help prevent accidents. Protective Equipment – Using protective equipment, such as seat belts on tractors, and personal protective equipment (such as safety gloves, coveralls, boots, hats, aprons, goggles, face shields) could significantly reduce farming injuries. Take precautions to prevent entrapment and suffocation caused by unstable surfaces of grain storage bins, silos, or hoppers. Never “walk the grain.” Be aware that methane gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide can form in unventilated grain silos and manure pits and can suffocate or poison workers or explode. Take advantage of safety equipment, such as bypass starter covers, power take-off master shields, and slow-moving vehicle emblems. Medical Care – Hospitals and emergency medical care are typically not readily accessible in rural areas near farms. The Benefits of Improved Safety and Health Practices
Orthman Manufacturing provides this document in the hope that everyone that has a job to do, does it SAFELY. Our goal and yours should be to end
each day in the best possible health. Better safety and health practices reduce fatalities, injuries, and illnesses as well as associated costs such as
workers’ compensation insurance premiums, lost production, and medical expenses. A safer and more healthful workplace improves morale and
productivity.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION
READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE CONTENT OF THIS MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING OR SERVICING IMPLEMENT.
Read and understand all operator manuals for the machinery used in conjunction with your Orthman equipment.
Carefully READ ALL SAFETY DECALS in this manual as well as on the implement. Keep implement clean so decals are easily visible. Keep all safety decals in good, clean, and legible condition. Immediately replace damaged and/or missing decals. Replacement decals are available from your Orthman dealer. Learn to operate the implement and all components properly. Do not let others operate implement without proper instruction. Unauthorized implement modifications may impair function and safety. If you do not understand any content in this manual or need assistance, contact your Orthman dealer. EQUIPMENT SAFETY GUIDELINES
Operator safety is the primary concern when designing an Orthman implement. Orthman integrates as many safety features into the implement as possible. You can avoid many hazards and possible accidents by observing precautions in this safety section.
Insist that yourself and personnel working with and around you follow all safety precautions. Be cautious when working with or around implement to avoid injury. SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL
The SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL warns of potential hazards to personal safety and that extra precautions must be taken. When you see this symbol, carefully read the message(s) that follow. Follow all recommended precautions and safe operating practices in this manual.
Hazard control and accident prevention are dependent upon the safety awareness
and proper training of personnel involved in the operation of this implement.
BE AWARE OF SIGNAL WORDS
SIGNAL WORDS designate a degree or level of HAZARD seriousness. These signal words include:
DANGER
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. DANGER is limited to extreme situations, typically for machine components which for functional purposes, cannot be guarded.
WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury. WARNING includes hazards that are exposed when safety guards are removed. Warning may also be used to alert against unsafe practices.
CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. CAUTION may also be used to alert against unsafe practices.
SHUTDOWN AND STORAGE
AVOID CRUSHING. Make sure all personnel are clear of the implement. Lower implement to the ground, place tractor in park, turn off engine, and remove key.
USE BAR STANDS AND CYLINDER STOPS TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENT.
Store implement on a clean, dry, and level surface. An uneven surface could cause implement to shift or fall, resulting in injury or death, as well as implement damage. Securely support all implement components that must be raised. Store implement away from human activity.
SAFE TRANSPORT
Engage transport locking devices prior to transport. Plan your route to avoid traffic. Yield to traffic in all situations. Maximum transport speed is 20 mph (32 kph). Various conditions will require reduced speed. Travel at speeds that allow for adequate control of stopping and steering. Know implement transport height and gross weight. Avoid overhead obstructions not allowing your transport height. Do not use bridges rated below combined implement and tractor weight. Make allowances for implement size when transporting. Sudden braking can cause a towed load to swerve and/or rollover. Never use independent braking with implement in tow as loss of control and/or rollover can result. Reduce speed if towed implement is not equipped with brakes. Comply with state and local laws governing implement transport. AVOID ELECTROCUTION. Be aware of overhead power lines. Contact or close proximity to power lines can result in injury or death. Use extreme care when operating implement near power lines.
Make sure a slow moving vehicle (SMV) placard is mounted to the implement and is
easily visible to other motorists.
Do not coast. Always keep tractor or towing device in gear to provide engine braking when
traveling downhill.
WARNING AND SAFETY LIGHTS
Oversized implements and slow moving vehicles create a hazard when transported on public roads. Make sure all warning, safety lights, and turning signals are working and clean. Use safety lighting when using public roads day and night. Replace missing or damaged lights immediately. Comply with state and local laws governing implement safety lighting. A safety lighting package, conforming to implement lighting standard ANSI/ASAE S279.12, if not supplied with, is available for addition to your equipment. Contact your Orthman dealer for safety lighting package information. Refer to toolbar operator’s manual for safety lighting package installation and adjustment. SAFE OPERATION
Safe Operation Guidelines
0 SAFETY DECALS