Iowa State University Extension
Pre-season
equipment maintenance is not complete until you've checked
for safety.
Are
intake guards and shields on grain augers secure?
Are
belts and pulleys at proper tension to reduce slippage and
the temptation to manually "help it along"?
Are
chain drives adjusted and in working order?
Do all
power take-off units have shields? If removed during maintenance
or storage, are they back in place?
The
most serious injuries on the farm involve machinery and equipment.
According to the National Safety Council, one-third of all
machinery accidents involved augers, chains and sprockets,
cutterheads, gears, blades, PTOs, rolls, and V-belts. In Iowa,
nearly half of all 1990 farm deaths resulted from working
with or around agricultural equipment.
March
is an excellent time to run a pre-season safety check of all
machinery and equipment. Make sure there are shields on exposed,
moving parts on grinder mixers, combines, mowers, and other
implements. Check belt, chain or gear drives for excessive
wear and proper tension. Rotary or auger intake areas on all
grain handling equipment and PTOs also should be guarded.
For
more information about how to retrofit guards on equipment
or perform safety checks, contact your local dealer or your
nearest Iowa State University extension office at __________.
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
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: March 1992.
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