We would like to take the time to remind farm workers of the hazards of machines. Although the nights are drawing out, it still becomes dark early, and many livestock farms will be a hive of activity. It is therefore good practice to remind yourself to take time and care when operating any machines. Many agricultural machines have potentially dangerous moving parts, which can cause serious or fatal injuries. For example:
- Balers – pick-ups, twine mechanisms and moving rear doors
- Forage harvesters – chopping cylinders
- Combine harvesters – augers in the grain tank and the header unit
- Potato harvesters – rotating rollers and conveyors
- Slurry tankers – power take-off (PTO) shafts
- Bale and straw choppers – chopping mechanisms
- Tractor – hitch mechanisms, PTOs and PTO shafts
- Power harrows – rotating tines
- Feeder wagons – rotating components in the mixing chamber. These machines and others like them are extremely powerful. Workers using them may become complacent and may not be aware of the forces involved. For example:
- With tractors, a 10 cm diameter fencepost is smashed into matchwood almost instantly when trapped in a rising pick-up hitch
- Leaking hydraulic oil from a burst hose can be projected at 3000 psi and will penetrate the skin as easily as it would if delivered through a hypodermic
- syringe
- A PTO shaft will wrap clothes, hair or arms at a rate of about 1.5 metres persecond
When there is a problem with a machine, the most important procedure to follow is ‘Safe Stop’.
Safe Stop
- Engage handbrake
- Controls in neutral
- Switch off engine (or turn off power)
- Remove key (or lock-off the power supply)
Follow Safe Stop
- Before leaving the driver’s seat/operating position
- When anyone else approaches
- Before anyone carries out maintenance, adjustments or deals with a blockage
- Before you start maintenance work
Many serious and fatal accidents have occurred where operators have tried to clear blockages, correct faults, or worked on machines with the engine running or power engaged. So always make sure you follow the Safe Stop procedure. Remember that agricultural machines may have several power sources – mechanical, hydraulic and electrical (e.g., a potato harvester with hydraulic driven components, PTO-driven parts, and electrical controls for some systems). All power sources must be isolated during Safe Stop. Usually, stopping the tractor and removing the key does this – but this may not be the case with fixed machinery where it may be necessary to isolate the power supply.
Follow Safe Stop
- Before leaving the driver’s seat/operating position
- When anyone else approaches
- Before anyone carries out maintenance, adjustments or deals with a blockage
Always make sure the machine has come to rest – remember to allow for any ‘rundown’ time before making any adjustments. Run-down time can vary from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the machine.
Using the machine
When you are working with a machine:
- Don’t remove or defeat guards (e.g., by overriding safety devices) in order to allow the machine to work quicker or to avoid blockages or other problems. If guards become damaged or defective, stop work and take action to get them fixed. Don’t leave it until later.
- Don’t run the machine when the guards are removed.
- Replace all guards before making a test run and check the machine before restarting.
- Check for bystanders and warn them before you restart the machine.
- If the machine is to be checked again after the test run, repeat all safety procedures – especially Safe Stop.
- Do not mount or dismount from a moving machine.
Dealing with blockages or other problems
- Always follow the Safe Stop procedure before carrying out any intervention.
- Secure anything which could fall on you, e.g., by using props or scotches on tailgates/doors.
- Secure anything which could move or rotate, e.g., by using chocks.
- Remember that energy is stored in springs or hydraulics, for example. Consider how will you stop this energy being released or release it safely.
- Use the right tools for the job. Remember, machine components may suddenly move when a blockage is cleared.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions/procedures, e.g., as set out in the operator’s manual. Adjusting the machine settings can help avoid blockages.
- Use built-in ladders and other purpose-designed access points and platforms where provided. Where such facilities don’t exist, you will need to consider alternative safe means of access, e.g., with measures provided to prevent falls.
- When the job is finished, always replace the guards before running the machine.
- Check the machine over before restarting.
Find out more at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/maintenance-1.htm
