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Carol Keene
New York
Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health
Many
farmers suffer the loss of fingers, hands, arms, or feet in
corn harvesting accidents each year. Some even lose their
lives. Nearly all these tragedies are preventable, especially
if farm workers would take the time to understand the hazards
these machines present and take the appropriate safety precautions.
Most serious corn harvesting accidents involve either corn
pickers or harvesters. These two machines perform similar
tasks and can cause such hazards as burns, severe cuts, entrapment,
and amputations.
Corn
pickers have gathering mechanisms which can become easily
clogged. For this reason, they are usually involved in serious
corn harvesting accidents. Corn picking accidents occur when
the snapping rolls become plugged and the operator attempts
to remove corn stalks or other debris while the machine is
running. As the operator tugs at the plugged stalks, the snapping
rolls can suddenly free up and begin to roll. Before the operator
can release his grip, his hand and arm are well entangled
in the machine. To add to the problem, once someone is entangled
in a corn picker, it is often difficult and time consuming
to get him out.
The
good news is that it is easy to avoid accidents like this.
Just remember to turn off the power to your corn picker, allowing
it to completely stop, before trying to unclog it.
The
gathering mechanisms on corn combines do not clog as
easily as those on corn pickers, but the risks are the same
if someone tries to unplug the rolls without turning the machine
off first. Most combine accidents occur when clothing, shoe
laces, fingers, hands, or legs get caught in the many exposed
belts and gears. The rule to remember here is to always shut
your combine off whenever you leave the operator's platform
to make adjustments. It is also a good idea to wear comfortable,
but close-fitting clothing. Make sure you avoid wearing flappy
overalls and loose sleeves and cuffs.
Because
of their size, it is very dangerous to use corn harvesting
equipment near ditches or streams. The banks often give way
under the weight of the machines and cause it to fall over.
As a rule to prevent these accidents, you should keep the
center of gravity of your machine as far away from the edge
of a channel as the channel is deep.
Safe
and efficient autumn corn harvesting depends a lot on how
well prepared you are. Be aware of all the hazards surrounding
this farm task. The key factor to remember is: Before servicing
any farm equipment, TURN IT OFF!
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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
NASD Review: 04/2002
Carol
Keene, Northeast Center Coordinator, NYCAMH.
This public service announcement was produced by the New York
Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH), One
Atwell Road, Cooperstown, New York 13326 - Ph# (607) 547-6023
or (800) 343-7527 in the northeast. Publication date: 1994.
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