The agricultural field is a dangerous place. Crop cultivators, combine harvesters, tractors and other farm equipment can cause serious injuries, in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), combine accidents cause the most fatalities in agriculture. Even the U.S. Department of Labor claims injuries in agriculture account for more than one-third of all workplace fatalities. This means that crop farmers and other agricultural workers are at a high risk for serious injuries.
Common and Serious Injuries
The use of agricultural field and row crop cultivators can be very dangerous if not used properly. There are many different types of cultivators, so it is important to know the specific hazards of each type before using them. Here are some common and serious injuries that can occur while working with these machines:
-Injuries from contact with moving parts, such as the belt or tines on a harvester.
-Injuries from falling off the machine.
-Injuries from getting caught in the machinery.
-Injuries from getting hit by objects thrown by the machine.
-Injuries from getting sucked into the machinery.
One of the most common dangers and hazards with field cultivators is kickback. Kickback occurs when the machine moves forward and the blade hits something in the path ahead of it, like a stake or rock. This can cause serious injury to the person operating the machine.
Another common danger and hazard with field cultivators is getting cut by the blade. When the blade hits something, it can slice through the skin very easily. If you get cut by the blade of a field cultivator, you’re likely to experience major bleeding, which can lead to death if not treated properly.
Another danger and hazard with field cultivators is getting thrown off of the machine.
Accident Prevention
According to the National Safety Council, every year there are more than 2 million work-related injuries in the U.S. Nearly half of these injuries occur on farms and ranches.
Many of these injuries can be prevented by following a few simple safety guidelines. Here are some tips for agricultural field and row crop cultivators:
1) Wear protective equipment when working with hazardous materials or equipment.
2) Keep your hands and arms inside the tractor or machine at all times.
3) Use common sense when operating machinery. If you don’t know how something works, don’t try to fix it. Ask someone for help.
4) Always ride in a vehicle safely secured in a seat belt. Children should always ride in the back of the tractor or machine, unless supervised by an adult.