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Walla
Walla Agriculture SAFE
HARVESTING OPERATIONS
Preventing Accidents While
Harvesting
Hay and Forages
Harvesting hay or other forage crops involves many different operations.
Because of the many types of machines used, number of people and
different operations involved, accidents can and do occur during
this busy season.
Causes of Accidents While Harvesting
- Tractor Overturns – This is the number
one cause of injury and death on the farm or ranch. Refer to December
1999 Ag Horizon for detailed safety practices.
- Improper Use, Hitching, or Maintenance of Implements
– Harvesting forage and hay involves mowers, rakes, balers,
stackers, harrowbeds, loaders, and other machines. All have moving
parts that can easily entangle a person who comes in contact with
them. Improper hitching of the implements could cause the tractor
or truck to overturn. Improper maintenance may result in loose
parts flying off and striking bystanders or workers.
- Trying to unclog a machine when it is still running
is a major reason for serious accidents.
- Working in Unfamiliar Fields – Hitting
holes, ruts, or stumps are major hazards.
- Unsafe Transport of Equipment - Going to fast,
not having clear sight when turning onto the road, failure to
have the proper signs and lights, and not driving defensively
all contribute to accidents.
- Lifting Bales onto a Truck or Wagon –
Sudden movements by the truck or tractor can throw workers off
balance or cause hay bales to fall off and strike a worker.
Prevention of Accidents While Harvesting
- Remove stumps, stones, or other debris from the field, or clearly
mark them. Mark ditches and banks. Some banks are undercut.
- Slow down when working on hillsides. Plan harvesting so that
equipment travels downhill on steep slopes. Do not make sharp
turns when headed downhill.
- Keep all shields in place, especially the PTO shield. Keep long
hair away from moving parts. Keep platforms clear of debris. Never
mount or dismount a machine when it is moving. Make sure all machines
are hooked up correctly. Operating a mower or forage harvester
at excessive speed can cause machine failure and possible injuries
from flying debris if parts fail.
- Never try to unclog a machine when it is still moving or in
operation. Cutterbars: Stop the tractor and disengage the PTO.
Raise the cutterbar and back up. Shut off the engine and engage
the parking brake or shift the transmission into park (or neutral).
Reels, Crimper Rolls, and Augers: Disengage the PTO and shut off
the engine before doing any work on them. Wait until the part
has stopped moving. Back the material out of the equipment to
unclog the unit.
- The same techniques apply when working on balers and bale handling
systems. Disengage the PTO and shut off the tractor. Wait for
the flywheel and other moving parts to stop. Test the bale-knotter
by turning the shut-off system by hand to see in slow motion what
is happening with the bale-knotter. Keep hands away and observe.
- When loading bales manually, be sure that the driver does not
start and stop suddenly.
- Block or secure machines such as headers, bars, stackers, when
working on them. Block the wheels too.
- Keep hydraulic fluid clean and check often for damage to the
system. Keep belts and chains in good repair and have the right
tension on them at all times.
- Be sure the tractor has front end ballast.
- Do not eject big bales where they might start rolling. Do not
let anyone stand near the rear of the baler when a bale is coming
out.
Excerpted from Farm Safety Series PNW 512. To download your
free copy in PDF, go to http://pubs.wsu.edu
and type PNW0512 in the search box. For a copy in Spanish,
Serie "Seguridad en la granja", type in PNW0512S.
Compiled by John Fouts. For more information, contact WSU Extension
at (509) 524-2685 or email John at fouts@wsu.edu
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