Farm equipment operators want powerful machinery to be able to handle the demands of modern agriculture. They recognize the dangers, yet many people become entangled in equipment every year. Here's a common scenario:
The field was wet and a little weedy and the header was clogging too often. The operator was annoyed at having to stop the combine, turn off the engine, climb out of the cab, and pull stalks out of the cornhead. When it happened for the fourth time in 30 minutes, he decided to save time by not turning off the engine. He knew he'd be able to let go of the stalk before the cornhead engaged again.
The situation was ripe for an accident, which took the operator's arm. Before he could even release his grip, the spinning stalk rolls pulled his entire arm into the machine.
Misconceptions about the hazards of specific farm equipment can result in a mangling injury or even death. One of the most common misconceptions is that a human being can react fast enough to avoid potential injury. Relying on your reaction to a situation is never the route to safety.
An average person can respond to a stimulus within three-fourths to one second. This reaction speed is only an estimate, and is affected by many factors. Gender, age, physical condition, and the use of alcohol or medications alter reaction time. However, fast reaction time is not the key issue. No matter how fast the reaction time, it will never be enough to avoid injury from farm equipment.
Table 1 is a chart that compares the average human reaction time to speeds of various farm machinery. It shows that reaction time alone cannot help you avoid injury on farm machinery. You also must use proper safety precautions so that you do not get into dangerous situations.
PTO ENTANGLEMENT
|
Average speed (feet/second) | What happens before you can react?* (feet) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTO | 7.0 | 5.25 | ||||
Auger | 10.0 | 7.5 | ||||
Cornhead | 12.0 | 9.0 | ||||
Belt/Pulley | 66.0 | 49.5 | ||||
Rotary Lawnmower | 52.0** | 39.0** | ||||
Falling equipment | 32.0*** | 9.0*** | ||||
*
This is the number of feet that can be entangled in the
equipment during the average reaction time of .75 second. ** A lawnmower blade makes 52 rotations every second. By the time you can react, a single blade will have gone around 39 times. *** Gravity moves falling objects at 32 feet/second/second. For example, equipment 9 feet in the air hits the ground in .75 second. NOTE: This chart is based on estimated values. Conditions vary that can increase or decrease the values shown in chart. |
What if that person was very quick and could react within 0.1 second? Could he or she avoid injury? No, because even in that short time the PTO would have pulled in .7 feet (about 8 inches, a hand or shirt sleeve). Once entangled, a person has few choices.
PTO entanglement can be avoided by always following these precautions:
AUGER ENTANGLEMENT
To prevent auger entanglement always:
BELT/PULLEY ENTANGLEMENT
To prevent entanglement always:
OTHER HAZARDS
Equipment that is propped up or on jacks also can be a hazard. The time it takes for falling equipment to hit the ground is usually not enough time to react and get out of the way. To avoid these hazards always mechanically lock and block equipment to make repairs. Do not rely on hydraulic systems to suspend equipment for servicing.
Reaction time is important. When driving a tractor, the operator must respond to situations as they are presented. Operator reaction time is critical in avoiding injury in these situations, but never forget that machines are always faster than humans possibly can react.
FARM MACHINERY SAFETY
See answers at the end of the next section.
What can you do? No matter how fast you react to farm equipment hazards, it will never be enough to avoid injury. You must use proper safety precautions to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Answers to quiz:
1-False; 2-True; 3-b; 4-b; 5-b; 6-False.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Publication #: Pm-1563j
This Fact Sheet is apart of a series from the Safe Farm Program, Iowa State University Extension, Ames, Iowa. Safe Farm promotes health and safety in agriculture. It is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH #U05/CCU706051-03), Iowa State University, and a network of groups that serve Iowa farm workers and their families. Publication date: December 1994.
Prepared by Charles V. Schwab, extension farm safety specialist; Shawn Shouse, extension agricultural engineer; and Laura Miller, extension communications, Iowa State University Extension, Ames, Iowa.
Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More