Agricultural Engineering Safety Lesson Plan: Operator Safety - Tillage Equipment

OBJECTIVE

To identify precautions and safety tips for the operation of tillage equipment.

INTRODUCTION

While the skilled operator of tillage equipment avoids errors with very little conscious thought, accident studies show that hurrying and human error are responsible for or are involved in the vast majority of equipment accidents. An operator must have an understanding of the function, operation and limitations of the equipment he/she is operating and the operator must resist the temptation to be hurried into an accident.

KEY POINTS AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION

1. Moldboard Plows
1. Provide adequate front-end weight for tractor stability in transport and operation, particularly with integral and semi-integral plows. Never pull from any point higher on the tractor than the recommended hitch point.
2. Use extreme caution and reduce speed when transporting the plow and the tractor over rough ground.
3. Avoid sharp turns at high speeds, especially on slopes.
4. On tight turns, avoid swinging rear of plow into fences or other obstacles.
5. Turning stops on semi-integral plows limit turning radius. Shorter turns may severely damage plow frame and tractor hitch.
6. Never carry passengers on the tractor or permit others to ride on the plow -- particularly plows with automatic reset.
7. Always lower the plow when not in use or left unattended.
8. Lower the plow and securely pin the parking stand before detaching the plow from the tractor.
9. Always use proper lighting, reflectors, SMV emblem, and other safety devices for road travel as required by state and local laws.
10. When hitching drawn plows, always use a hitch pin with adequate strength for the tractor-plow combination.
2. Disk Plows
1. Integral plows are transported completely raised, and all weight is carried by the tractor 3-point hitch. Adequate tractor front-end weights are required to offset the plow weight.
2. When the transporting on a road or highway, always display SMV emblem and use lights and reflectors as required by state and local regulations.
3. Semi-integral plows are quite long and caution must be used when turning to prevent swinging the plow into fences or irrigation ditches.
4. Reduce speed when transporting over rough ground, and avoid quick, sharp turns at high speeds.
5. When transporting semi-integral or drawn plows, always install cylinder locks to prevent accidental lowering of the plow. Relieve the load on hydraulic cylinders before starting to transport.
6. Lower the plow to the ground or install hydraulic cylinder locks when the plow is not in use.
7. Watch for other people when raising, lowering, or indexing the plow.
8. Never permit anyone to ride on the plow, and allow only the driver on the tractor. Do not permit children to play on or near the plow either when parked or in operation.
9. Lower the parking stand and securely pin it in place before detaching integral or semi-integral plows from the tractor.
3. Disk Tillers or Oneways
1. Keep SMV emblem clean and prominently displayed. Do the same with reflectors and warning lights as required by state and local regulations.
2. Never allow anyone but the operator to ride on the tractor.
3. Never ride or permit others to ride on the tiller.
4. Lower the tiller to the ground when not in use.
5. Secure the machine in the raised position by installing safety locks or hold-up pins when servicing or cleaning it.
6. Disk blades are extremely sharp; be very careful when working or making adjustments in the disk area.
7. Never walk close beside the rear wheel when the tiller is in operation. A sudden imbalance of forces could cause this wheel suddenly to jump to the left.
8. Never grease, oil, or adjust the tiller while it is in operation.
9. Escaping hydraulic oil under pressure can cause serious personal injury and infection. Therefore, be sure all connections are tight and that oil lines are undamaged. Always relieve hydraulic pressure in lines before disconnecting hoses. See a doctor immediately if escaping hydraulic oil has penetrated the skin.
4. Chisel Plow
1. Reduce speed when transporting chisel plows over rough or uneven terrain.
2. Use lock-up straps or transport locks when transporting a chisel plow.
3. Be sure wings are locked in the folded position before traveling.
4. Use proper lights, reflectors, and a clean SMV emblem when transporting equipment on road or highway.
5. The transport width of most folding-section plows exceeds maximum width of normal vehicles. Therefore, use extreme caution when meeting other traffic, to avoid collisions and the possibility of transport wheels dropping into holes, drains, or ditches along the road edge.
6. Allow only the operator to ride on the tractor.
7. Never allow passengers to ride on the chisel plow.
8. Never allow anyone to stand or work near the chisel plow when it is in operation, particularly when raising or lowering outriggers.
9. Do not permit children to play on or near the chisel plow during operation or storage.
10. Provide adequate tractor front-end ballast for stability in transport and operation, especially with integral models.
11. Be particularly careful of escaping hydraulic fluid which can penetrate the skin and cause serious infection or reaction if not given immediate medical treatment.
12. Do not unhitch from the tractor or store a chisel plow when outriggers are in the raised position.
13. Make sure raised outriggers will safely pass under power and telephone lines.
5. Disk Harrows and Offset Disks
1. Always lock safety lock during transport, if the disk is to be left raised for an extended period, or while working on the machine.
2. Never depend on tractor hydraulic pressure to carry harrow weight in transport--use safety lock, and relieve pressure in cylinders.
3. Lower integral harrows to ground each time tractor engine is shut off, and any time harrow is being serviced or repaired. If it must be raised for repairs, securely block the frame to prevent accidental lowering.
4. Always use lights, reflectors, and SMV emblem when transporting, day or night.
5. Lock the tractor drawbar in fixed position when transporting wheeled disks.
6. Never transport a disk harrow on its own wheels at more than normal tractor speed, and considerably less than that on rough or uneven ground.
7. Never clean, adjust, or lubricate the harrow while it is in motion.
8. Wear protective gloves when working with or near disk blades.
9. Hydraulic fluid escaping under pressure can penetrate the skin and cause serious infection or reactions. Never use hands to locate the source of a small leak which may be nearly invisible. Obtain immediate medical attention if injured by escaping hydraulic fluid.
10. Park or block the harrow so it cannot roll when unhitched.
11. Make sure wings are securely locked in transport position before moving the harrow.
12. Large disk harrows exceed normal vehicle width, so be particularly careful to avoid collisions when meeting other vehicles on the road. Avoid dropping wheels of tractor or harrow into holes, drains, or ditches along the road.
13. Provide adequate tractor ballast for front-end stability and to prevent excessive slippage.
14. Never allow anyone to ride on tractor drawbar or harrow in operation or transport.
15. Never allow anyone but the operator to ride on the tractor.
16. Lower the machine or install safety lock when storing a disk harrow.
17. Never permit children to play on or near a disk harrow while it is in operation, transport, or storage.
18. Stand clear of harrow wings during folding or unfolding.
19. Remove spring-loaded scrapers in proper order to avoid personal injury. Use care in relieving any spring under tension or compression.
20. Do not make sharp turns with blades down.
6. Field Cultivators
1. Never exceed recommended transport speed for the cultivator used; if speed is not stated, do not exceed maximum tractor speed.
2. Reduce speed for turning and travel over rough or uneven ground.
3. Use transport locks and relieve pressure in cylinders when transporting field cultivators. Do not depend on hydraulic pressure to carry the weight. Always lock wings in transport position and relieve pressure in cylinders.
4. Never walk or work under wings when they are in the folded position.
5. Follow state and local regulations regarding lights, reflectors, SMV emblem, and maximum width when transporting on roads or highways.
6. Transport width of most field cultivators exceeds normal vehicle width. Therefore, use extreme caution when meeting other vehicles and avoid the possibility of dropping tractor or- implement wheels into holes, drains, or ditches along the road edge.
7. Never permit anyone to ride on the tractor drawbar or cultivator in transport or operation, or to stand near the machine while it is operating--particularly when raising or lowering wings.
7. Toothed Harrows
1. Provide sufficient front-end weight for safe,stable operation and transport.
2. Use widest practical wheel tread to improve tractor stability, especially when working on steep slopes.
3. Reduce implement to narrowest possible width for transport on roads or highways.
4. Lock wings or folded sections securely in place before transporting equipment.
5. Use lights, reflectors, and SMV emblem as required by law when transporting equipment--day or night.
6. Schedule moves for least hazardous periods; avoid transporting equipment on busy roads, during peak traffic periods, or after dark.
7. Never transport wheeled harrows, harrow carts, or field conditioners at more than tractor transport speeds; transport considerably slower on rough or uneven terrain.
8. Never make sharp turns at high speeds.
9. Never allow anyone to ride on the tractor but the operator.
10. Never allow anyone to ride on the tractor drawbar or implement in operation or transport.
11. Always stop implement and tractor engine to adjust, repair, or lubricate.
12. Lower implements to the ground before stopping tractor engine, before servicing or repairing equipment, or at any time the machines are left unattended.
13. Never make extremely short turns with drag-type eveners which could foul tractor tires.
14. Never park implements where they could be hidden by tall or growing crops, grass, or weeds.
15. Keep PTO shaft properly shielded. Never get off tractor without disengaging PTO and stopping engine.
8. Packers
1. Always use reflectors, lights, and SMV emblem as required when transporting equipment--day or night.
2. Provide adequate front-end weight for tractor stability in operation and transport of integral harrows. Use maximum allowable front ballast if operating integral harrows in lower gears.
3. Never exceed normal tractor speed when transporting drawn roller harrows, and drive considerably slower than that on rough or uneven ground.
4. Do not transport roller packers over hard-surfaced roads--use carriers.
5. Never permit anyone but the driver to ride on the tractor.
6. Never permit anyone to ride on the tractor drawbar or implement during operation or transport.
7. Install transport lock pin before storing, transporting, or parking drawn implement; do not depend on hydraulic pressure to support the weight. Lower machines to the ground whenever the tractor engine is shut off.
8. Pin tractor drawbar in center before transporting.
9. Never lubricate, adjust, or repair the implement while it is in motion or the tractor engine is running.
10. Always raise spring teeth before lowering roller harrow to the ground for parking or storage.
11. Park or block the implement to prevent rolling when it is disconnected from the tractor.
12. Never try to lift or support the roller harrow on the spring teeth for service or repairs.
9. Undercutters
1. Use the SMV emblem, lights, and reflectors as required by law for transporting equipment on roads or highways.
2. Install the transport safety lock and relieve hydraulic pressure in the cylinders when transporting.
3. Be certain wings are securely locked in the folded position before transporting.
4. Limit transport speed as recommended--15 miles an hour (24 Km/h) for some machines, even less on rough or uneven terrain.
5. Never ride or allow others to ride on the machine during operation or transport. Allow only the driver on the tractor.
6. Do not unhitch from the tractor or store the machine with wings in the folded transport position.
7. Sweeps are sharp--watch out for them when wings are folded for transport or when servicing, adjusting, or repairing the plow. Always position wrenches to pull away from sharp edges or corners.
8. Never stand with feet under blades while making adjustments or during maintenance. Be extremely careful while working within the implement frame.
9. Do not stand or walk on the plow frame, or under wings when they are folded for transport.
10. Stand with both feet on the same side of the tongue when hitching or unhitching.
11. Do not allow children to play on or near the plow.
10. Rod Weeders
1. Allow only the operator to ride on the tractor during operation and transport.
2. Never permit anyone to ride on the rod weeder.
3. Never exceed recommended transport speed or, if not stated, maximum tractor speed. Reduce speed on rough or uneven terrain or when turning.
4. Use lights, reflectors, and SMV emblem as required by state and local regulations when transporting equipment, day or night.
5. Avoid busy highways and peak traffic periods if possible. Move equipment only in daytime.
6. Never attempt to repair, adjust, or lubricate the rod weeder while it is in motion.
7. Shut off the engine and relieve the hydraulic pressure in hoses before disconnecting them.
8. Never exceed recommended transport speed, or tractor road speed if maximum is not stated. Reduce speed when turning or crossing rough areas and slopes.
9. Always lower parking stands on integral equipment before detaching from tractor.
10. Always lower equipment or install transport lock before servicing, lubricating or repairing equipment, and when the machine will be left unattended.

Source: Fundamentals of Operation - Tillage, Deere & Co.