Iowa State University Extension
As you
bale hay this month or prepare to harvest grain, don't forget
that the upcoming months are the most dangerous season on
Iowa farms.
The
intake area on balers and combines poses entanglement or crushing
hazards. They're also dangerous because of the machine's power
and speed at which accidents can occur.
For
example, a baler traveling at the speed of 3 miles per hour
pulls in crops at a rate of about 4.4 feet per second. Snapping
rolls on a cornhead pull in stalks at a rate of about 12 feet
per second, and the edge of a combine reel travels 6 feet
per second. Both machines move faster than an alert operator
can react.
If you
try to unplug a stalk in a live cornhead, the snapping rolls
can pull the rest of the stalk, and your arm and hand, into
the machine. This can happen in less than a second, faster
than it would take for you to release the freed stalk.
Balers
account for nearly half of the machine-related farm injuries
reported to the National Safety Council. When harvesting hay
or forage crops, remember these safety guidelines:
- Never
hand-feed twine into the baler.
- Large
round bales, which can weigh 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, pose
problems during loading and transportation. Never transport
a bale with the front-end loader raised. Uneven or sloping
ground, or a quick turn, can cause the tractor to tip. To
prevent the bale from rolling down the arms of a loader,
use grapple hooks.
- Always
lock and block the baler rear gate to check, clean, or repair
the machine. Combines also are very powerful to effectively
handle large amounts of agricultural commodities. Remember
these safety guidelines when working with combines:
- Always
disengage power and shut off the engine before unplugging
the machine, or adjusting a belt or chain.
- Lock
and block the combine header before getting underneath it.
Use the safety lock, rather than relying on the hydraulic
system, which can fail. Lock the header for road travel
to reduce stress on the hydraulic system.
- Watch
for uneven, bumpy, or sloping surfaces, which can cause
the combine to become unstable and tip. Although combine
rollovers are uncommon, they can occur because of the machine's
high center of gravity.
Accident
risks tend to rise as harvest wears on. By following these
procedures, and taking occasional breaks, you can make your
harvest season a safe one.
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: August 1992.
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