Inattention can cost you your life! Check out what you need to know about harvest safety
August is the month of harvest. Hot time for Farmers. While working in the fields, you use combines, tractors, trailers, hay harvesting machines…. It is during this period that accidents are most common, some of which end in disability and even death. So today a few words about how to be careful and make it safely to the end of the harvest. Check out what to look out for.
How to prevent accidents during harvesting?
Malfunctioning machinery is responsible for most harvesting accidents. Therefore, before you start work, check the condition of your equipment – only use equipment that is in good working order. Inspect mainly the guards in the moving parts of the equipment, especially those on the pivot-telescopic shafts (but also on the gears, pulleys or chains). Checking them regularly should get you into the habit. Damaged parts should be repaired, and worn parts should be replaced. Also remember to properly lubricate the basic components of the machines, and of course – to follow the instructions for their operation.
When proceeding with repairs and adjustments, turn off the drive so that rotating and moving parts of the equipment do not pull in, for example. Your arm or leg. We advise you to remove the keys from the ignition, especially if children are around – a child can accidentally start the engine. In the vicinity of moving machine parts, it is a good idea to check the wiring of the electrical system. Before starting a combine or tractor, toot your horn and make sure there are no unauthorized people, especially children, near the machine. We also advise against transporting family members (especially children) or friends on loaded trailers, fenders and drawbars of machines, and on the platforms themselves. A fall can end in an accident and invading such a person. When descending from the trailer, it is safest to use a sufficiently long ladder.
Remember not to wear clothes that are too loose for work, parts of which (such as sleeves) can be pulled in by the machine. If you wear a long shirt and plan to make repairs, pull the sleeves up to your elbows at a minimum. No less important is the footwear itself, which should protect you from a possible slip or fall. Work boots with a sacrificial sole and ankle brace will work best here. Protective gloves will also come in handy – mainly when working with lubricants and various chemicals.
Ensure regular hydration of the body. As much as possible, take care of your rest so that you join work rested (and healthy!). We strongly advise short breaks to catch strength. Try not to expose your body too much to the sun during hot weather, especially during the midday hours. Remember sunscreen and headgear. This will reduce the risk of stroke, strokes or heart attacks. Have a phone nearby at all times so you can call for help if needed.
We do not recommend driving any agricultural machinery under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. And this is true regardless of whether you are driving on a public road or in a field. This is a punishable offense.
Are you driving on a public road? Check that you have a valid liability policy. When driving a combine with a heder hooked up in front, remember that it takes up more road width, thus causing traffic obstruction. If you want to avoid a fine, be sure to remove the heder – it should be transported on a special cart.
Remember, too, that in order to move a combine or tractor carrying straw, you need to have the proper qualifications. It is also important that this type of equipment meets certain requirements: it is equipped with a functioning braking and steering system, has a safe cab, properly functioning traffic lights and a triangle that distinguishes slow-moving vehicles from others. If you drive a combine, we recommend getting a rearview camera.
Also watch out for debris left by machines from the fields, which can become a serious danger on the roads – all it takes is rain and slippery mud. The wheels can lose traction, and from there it’s a straight road to an accident. As for loose materials, they should be transported in a sealed cargo box so that they do not spill. Remember, too, that the cargo being carried is not to obstruct visibility of the road and obscure the vehicle’s lights. The height of the load should be a maximum of 4 meters from the ground.
Remember, too, that during the harvest, it is a good idea to set up a special fenced play area for children away from the field. Do not allow children to operate tractors and other agricultural machinery. Don’t leave dangerous tools around them. Remember that children are often unaware of potential dangers. If you are already going to give them responsibilities, they should be up to their abilities. Toddlers should not be asked to work with pesticides, fertilizers, solvents, lubricants, or fuel and tar. Add that neither children nor the elderly should work at heights either, such as stacking straw on haystacks.
How to prevent fires during harvest?
Fires are not uncommon during the harvest. They are favored by weather conditions: hot weather, strong winds, lack of rainfall. It is a good idea to protect the exhaust devices of internal combustion engines from the discharge of sparks. It is also important to regularly get rid of dust and chaff, especially from the shaft bearing housing – this greatly minimizes the risk of fire.
Also, be sure to include fire extinguishers (as well as fire blankets and suppressors) in the machinery and place them in an easily accessible location. The more there are, the greater the chance of nipping the fire in the bud. Beforehand, it is worth checking how to use such a fire extinguisher. Moreover, it is a good idea to inspect such fire extinguishers at least once a year. You can also take a fire truck with you to the field, which will allow you to quickly put out a fire if necessary. Some farmers take a plow or disc harrow with which to plow the burning area.
Before harvesting, it is a good idea to properly clean the field. If there are rocks and branches lying on the roads, we advise you to remove them so that, in case of emergency, the fire truck can reach you without obstacles. We also advise you to develop an evacuation plan just in case. Before going to the field it is good to check the strength of the winds, they are the biggest ally of fires.
We also recommend mowing the grass and dried vegetation between fields – this will prevent a possible fire from spreading as quickly. Also, do not use open flames in areas where there are combustible agricultural crops. Do not smoke either with them or when operating machinery and vehicles. On the other hand, it is a good idea to maintain safe distances when building stacks.
We’ve also already told you about machine inspections – adding that they need to be regularly maintained. This should be done, among other things. Therefore, to prevent fires. Potential fuel leaks and sparks can lead to fires, and seized bearings contribute to fires in combines as well as straw balers.
Vehicles in which the fuel tank has not been emptied and in which the battery power has not been disconnected should not be left in barns. Also remember that if you enter a combine, your face should be facing the machine. The same also applies to descending from this machine.
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