The Evolution of Safety in Farm Tractors

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EQST411: Farm Equipment Management The Evolution of Safety in Farm Tractors Kelsey E. Harbour University of Findlay EQST411: Farm Equipment Management Jacob Bowman November 21, 2023

EQST411: Farm Equipment Management Farm equipment accidents are the leading cause of injury and death among farm related accidents. Some common equipment related accidents are due to tractor rollover, being caught in running machinery, and highway collisions between farm equipment and other vehicles. Each of these accidents can cause major injuries such as broken bones and disfigurement, but they can also lead to death. Of fatal farm equipment accidents, the majority are due to tractor accidents. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “37% of the 7,571 farmers who died on the job between 1992 and 2005 were involved in tractor accidents”. According to the National Ag Safety Database, “tractor overturns are the leading cause of fatal injuries on US farms, resulting in an average of about 130 deaths each year”. Working with farm equipment can be fatal if not handled properly, yet even experienced operators can get seriously injured. Tractors often cause a large portion of farm equipment injuries since they are more vulnerable to turning or rolling over, due to their high center of gravity. Over the years, we have seen an evolution of the safety features equipped on farm tractors to help prevent these incidents from occurring. One of those safety features seen on tractors today is the Roll Over Protection System (ROPS). The Roll Over Protection Systems helps by acting as a roll bar to create a “safety zone” for the operator in the event of a turnover. Roll Over Protection Systems were first invented in Sweden during the 1950s, but it was not required to be equipped on tractors until October 25, 1976. As of October 25, 1976, all agricultural tractors with over 20 horsepower are required to have ROPS and a seat belt. Statistically, a ROPS, when used with a seatbelt, is 99% effective in preventing major injury and death in the event of a tractor rollover. “In the United States, the annual fatality rate related to farm tractor operation declined from 14.9 fatalities per 100,000 tractors in use in 1970 to 7.2 per 100,000 tractors in use in 1989” (Centers

EQST411: Farm Equipment Management for Disease Control and Prevention). In only that 19 year span, the number of tractor turnover fatalities were cut in half due to the implementation of ROPS and seatbelts. Another major safety feature seen on tractors is the PTO shield. The power takeoff (PTO) shaft is one of the most dangerous areas on a tractor and can easily cause fatal injury. Being caught in a PTO shaft could result in amputations, broken bones, lacerations, and even death. These types of injuries often occur in older model tractors that may not have a PTO shield or have damaged shields. Due to entanglement, we see about 40 fatalities and 150 amputations a year, as well as other major injuries like broken bones and scalpings. A PTO shield helps to protect the operator by preventing the operator from coming into contact with the PTO shaft, so that they don’t become entangled. It is also important to make sure that the PTO shield in properly attached and maintained. If not properly attached or maintained, the shield cannot do its job as needed. While a PTO shield can help to prevent entanglement, it is also important to wear appropriate clothing, use lockout tagout procedures, and never work alone. By keeping these things in mind, an operator can better protect themselves from injury or death. Apart from the ROPS and PTO shield, farm tractors have many other safety features to help keep the operator and others safe. Headlights, side lights, taillights, and the SMV emblem are all important safety features, especially for driving a tractor on a public roadway. Collisions with motor vehicles make up roughly 50 tractors operator deaths per year. When moving farm equipment on public roads, accidents usually occur due to driving too fast, lack of experience handling the equipment, or running into a fixed object. Accidents can also occur if motorists are not paying attention to the speed difference. Often on public roads, tractors are moving much slower than the rest of traffic. If not paying attention, a motorist may come up on the tractor too fast and not leave enough time to stop, resulting in a collision. To help prevent this we have the

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EQST411: Farm Equipment Management SMV emblem and amber flashing light help to draw the attention of motorists to the tractor. If the lights are not functioning properly or the tractor is missing its SMV emblem, it may be difficult for motorists to see the tractor in certain conditions, which could lead to major injury for the operator and motorist. Farm equipment is often dangerous, especially farm tractors. Tractors related accidents are often the largest contributor to farm equipment accidents and result in multiple deaths per year, as well as major injuries. Over the years the implementation of safety features on tractors has helped to protect operators, but accidents can still occur. Being sure that all your equipment is properly maintained and functional can help to avoid any preventable accidents. However, in situations where an accident may be unavoidable, safety features such as ROPS, the PTO shield, and SMV emblem may save your life.

EQST411: Farm Equipment Management REFERENCES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Public health focus: Effectiveness of rollover protective structures for preventing injuries associated with agricultural tractors . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00019495.htm . Farming equipment accidents . Farm Injury Resource Center. (2017, August 29). https://farminjuryresource.com/farming-equipment-accidents/ . Gibson, J. (n.d.). Power take-off or PTO entanglements . The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. https://www.johndaylegal.com/power-take-off-or-pto-entanglements.html . Guide to tractor safety: Protecting agricultural workers . Online Safety Trainer. (2023, May 26). https://www.onlinesafetytrainer.com/guide-to-tractor-safety-protecting-agricultural- workers/ . Power take-off injuries . Farm Injury Resource Center. (2018, June 7). https://farminjuryresource.com/atv-injuries/farming-injuries/power-take-off-victims/ . Swenson, E. D. (2004). National Agricultural Tractor Safety Initiative . NASD. https://nasdonline.org/1906/d001837/national-agricultural-tractor-safety- initiative.html#:~:text=The%20Essential%20Intervention%3A%20Rollover%20Protective %20Structures,-Rollover%20protective%20structures&text=They%20support%20the %20weight%20of,limit%20overturns%20to%2090%20degrees . Tractor overturns . NASD. (n.d.). https://nasdonline.org/7232/d002442/tractor- overturns.html#:~:text=Tractor%20overturns%20are%20the%20leading,in%20his%20or %20her%20lifetime . What are the most common types of tractor accidents? What Are the Most Common Types of Tractor Accidents? | IL. (n.d.). https://www.kanoski.com/personal-injury-attorneys/update- what-are-the-most-common-types-of-tractor-accidents#:~:text=Tractors%20accounted %20for%20over%202%2C000,tractor%20operator%20deaths%20each%20year .

The Evolution of Safety in Farm Tractors

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