John
G. Pollock
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Hay
and forage harvesting is hazardous work on New York farms.
Do any of the following accidents bring to mind a near miss
of your own?
- A
37-year-old man falls under the wheels of a runaway haywagon.
It is believed that the victim may have tried to stop the
wagon by jumping on the tongue to get it to dig into the
ground.
- A
74-year-old farmer is killed when the arm of a hay elevator
falls onto his chest.
- A
18-year-old falls into the beaters of a self-unloading wagon.
Almost two hours go by before the victim is found.
- A
53-year-old man is killed when he gets caught in a silage
blower.
- A
61-year-old catches his sweatshirt in a hay baler and is
killed.
- A
69-year-old is crushed to death by a tractor as he is pulling
a wagon-load of hay out of a barn.
- A
farmer catches his arm in the PTO of a self-unloading wagon.
The amputated arm cannot be reattached because it is mangled
too badly.
- A
50-year-old is crushed to death by a load of hay that topples
from a farm wagon as a flat tire is being changed.
- A
63-year-old man is asphyxiated when he becomes entangled
in a baler flywheel.
- A
43-year-old farmer is run over by a baler.
- A
61-year-old falls from a haymow to the floor below and dies
of head injuries.
- A
57-year-old man dies of internal injuries when caught in
a hay baler.
The
injuries and deaths described here occurred in New York State
over the past seven years. The hazards associated with mowers,
balers, forage harvesters, and wagons are well documented.
The safe work practices needed to avoid these injuries are
too numerous to include in this short article.
If you
want to brush up on safety or inform your workers about hazards
and safe work practices involved with hay and forage harvesting,
send your questions to the Agricultural Safety Specialist,
Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, 324
Riley-Robb Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
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
John G.
Pollock, Executive Director, NYS Rural Health and Safety Council
at Cornell
Source:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, Ithaca,
NY
Provider: Ag Information Services -- News & Publications,
Penn State
November 11, 1993
Document Number:
28302103
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