Carol
J. Lehtola and Charles
M. Brown
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Stepping
over a power take-off instead of walking around a tractor
might seem like a time-saving shortcut, but it exposes you
to a much greater risk of injury or death.
Often, there's a "recommended safe way" of doing
a task and a way that seems quicker but is more hazardous.
Many people use the more dangerous shortcut to save time.
However, timed studies show that the time invested in doing
a task safely is quite insignificant, especially when compared
to the costs of injuries or possible death that could result
from the extra hazards involved in the shortcut.
Taking a few seconds to do a task safely may seem inconvenient
at the time, but Table 1 shows how little time it takes. Remember
that every time you take a shortcut, you are rolling the dice
for injury or death.
For some specific examples of the small amount of time it
takes to be safe, see Table 2. To put these times in perspective,
the total time invested for 100 repetitions of the task was
calculated.
Table
1.
Time
Invested
|
Total
Time for 100 Repetitions
|
3
seconds
|
5
minutes
|
5
seconds
|
10
minutes
|
10
seconds
|
17
minutes
|
Table 2.
Task
|
Time Invested
|
100 Repetitions
|
Walking down steps instead of jumping off
combine |
7 seconds |
12 minutes |
Walking around an auger instead of stepping
over it |
2 seconds |
3 1/2 minutes |
Engaging cylinder locks on combine when
working near or under head |
30 seconds |
50 minutes |
Getting off mower to pick up something instead
of leaning over to pick it up as you drive by |
20 seconds |
33 minutes |
Remember: The time you invest in performing
a task safely is minimal when you compare it to the high
financial and emotional costs associated with death, injury
and disability. |
Remember:
For more information about tractor safety, visit the Florida
AgSafe Network Web site:
http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu
The following publications are available at your county Extension
office and at the EDIS Web site, <http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu>.
(IFAS Publication Numbers are in parentheses after the titles.
The second set of parentheses contains the Web address at
which the publication can be viewed.)
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: 08/2002
1. This document
is
AE306
, one of a series of the Agricultural and Biological
Engineering Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service,
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of
Florida. Supported in part by the NIOSH Deep-South Center
for Occupational Health and Safety, University of South Florida,
Tampa, Florida. First published September 2001. Please visit
the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Carol J. Lehtola, assistant professor, Department of Agricultural
and Biological Engineering, and Extension Agricultural Safety
Specialist, and Charles M. Brown, Assistant Coordinator for
Agricultural Safety and Health, Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611
The
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action employer authorized to provide research, educational
information and other services only to individuals and institutions
that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap,
or national origin. For information on obtaining other extension
publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service
office. Florida Cooperative Extension Service/Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences/University of Florida/Christine
Taylor Waddill, Dean.
|