The most dangerous spot on your tractor is not in the driver's seat. It's on the fender, inside the cab, holding onto a grab bar or any place someone else might catch a ride.
Riders are not safe on tractors. They can be bumped off during a rough ride, or crushed, run over or impaled in an overturn or accident. An enclosed cab can't protect passengers, either. There are numerous reports of accidents in which passengers fall out of the cab and are run over by the tractor.
Riders also can block the operator's vision or become a distraction.
Newer-model tractors are designed to protect only the operator, not passengers, when the tractor overturns. Tractor manufacturers and safety experts suggest a "no rider" rule for most farm equipment, especially tractors.
Avoid situations in which others need tractor rides to a field or remote work area. Use a truck or car to haul passengers.
Remember that tractors are designed for work, not recreation. Use all-terrain vehicles or trucks with four-wheel drive for recreational purposes.
If visitors or children want to see a tractor, always turn off the engine before they approach the equipment.
For more information, contact your local Extension office.
This news release was distributed by Iowa State University Extension as part of the Safe Farm Program. Safe Farm promotes health and safety in agriculture. It is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Iowa State University, and a network of groups that serve Iowa farm workers and their families. Distribution date: February 1993.
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
