Howard
J. Doss and William McLeod
Michigan State University Extension
Grain
harvesting is traditionally one of the busiest times of the
year for Michigan farmers as they work to "bring in the crop."
It can also be one of the most dangerous seasons with farmers
often working long, hard days as they attempt to overcome
delays caused by equipment failures, breakdowns and poor weather.
Whatever
the reason is for being rushed, it:s important that farmers
be aware that exhaustion coupled with potentially hazardous
situations may result in an accident.
Accident
reports from 1988 to 1991 show several deaths directly attributable
to harvesting. Types of harvesting/grain handling accidents
include falling into a combine, suffocation in flowing grain,
and electrocution from touching overhead lines with an auger
or grain probe. As is the case with most accidents, most of
these deaths could have been avoided if more attention had
been paid to potential hazards and if safety rules had been
obeyed.
Corn
picker accidents have caused numerous injuries and deaths among
Michigan farmers. Virtually every farmer knows of a family member,
friend or neighbor who has been injured in a corn picker.
The picker:s snapping rolls are the most common culprit for
farmer injury because they frequently plug if ground speed
is too fast or slow. When plugged, the rollers still travel
freely, but stalks bunched around the rolls prevent stalks
from entering. In hopes of clearing the plug quickly, farmers
may be tempted to unplug the rollers without stopping the
picker and shutting off the tractor. As the farmer frees the
stalk that caused the plug, it rapidly moves into the roller,
sometimes taking the farmer:s hand and arm with it. With snapping
rollers traveling at about 12 feet per second, a farmer holding
onto a stalk two or three feet away from the mechanism has
less than a half-second to let go (see Figure 1). Too often
there just isn't enough time and the operator is caught in
the picker.
Always
stop the machine and shutoff the tractor before attempting
to unplug the picker.
Like
corn pickers, combines have numerous areas where individuals
can be injured if they fail to follow safe operating practices.
These areas, which must remain open for the crop to enter the
machine, must be avoided while the machine is operating. Never
attempt to dislodge stalks or grain sheaves with your feet or
hands while the combine is running. Always shut down the combine
and turn off the ignition before removing plugged or lodged
material.
Most
combine adjustments should be made with the machine shut off
to avoid injury to the operator. While there are certain adjustments
that must be made while the machine is running, such as adjusting
the variable speed cylinder or fan, these procedures are outlined
in the owner's manual and shielding usually provides protection
so adjustments can be made without risk to the operator.
Multiple
deaths among Michigan farmers have occurred when the operator
failed to properly lock or block the combine header while
working under it. Don:t rely on hydraulic cylinders to hold
the header up. Use locks or solid blocks to stabilize the
header while working beneath it.
Farmers
have also been injured when they climb inside the combine:s
grain tank to dislodge grain bridges that formed above the
unloading auger. If there:s room for grain to get to the unloading
auger, there:s probably enough room to get a hand or foot
caught.
Transporting
a combine on a public road requires knowledge of Michigan
highway laws and operator judgement to safely drive to a remote
location, especially with today:s larger machines which often
are wider than the typical vehicle lane of the highway. Properly
preparing the combine for transport can reduce the risk of
a combine/vehicle accident. This is done by:
- Emptying
the grain tank to reduce weight and lower the center of
gravity.
- Move
the unloading auger to the transport position.
- When
practical, remove the header to reduce width and transport
it on a truck or other implement carrier.
- Make
sure a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign, lights and reflectors
are in good condition.
- Check
that the combine is not wider than any bridges or culverts
that must be crossed to reach the field.
Under
Michigan law, "a person may operate or move an implement of
husbandry (a combine, implements towed by a farm tractor,
etc.) of any width on a highway as required for normal farming
operations, so as not to minimize the interruption of traffic
flow. However, a person must not operate or move an implement
of husbandry to the left of center of the roadway:
- from
a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise;
- when
approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve when the
driver:s view is obstructed within a distance as to create
a hazard in the event a vehicle might approach from the
opposite direction;
- when
the view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 ft. of
a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel; or
- at
any time visibility is substantially diminished due to weather
conditions."
For
a complete listing of state laws that apply to farm machinery
on public roadways the publication Today's Farm Equipment
on Public Roads (OHSP #883 [7/91]) is available from local
Michigan State Police posts.
Riding
on grain wagons or any other tractor-pulled equipment places
the rider at risk for an injury. Children are especially at
risk for falling off a wagon as the wheel hits a bump or drops
into a rut in the farm lane.
Grain,
as it is being unloaded from a gravity wagon, can quickly
trap and suffocate a child. As the grain flows out the chute
it creates a funnel that can drag a child down toward the
opening. The walls of the funnel may collapse and bury the
child, resulting is suffocation if assistance is not immediately
available.
Never
allow children to ride on a tractor or tractor-pulled equipment,
or to climb into a gravity wagon during unloading.
Augers
can present several safety risks for farmers, including entanglement
in the auger shaft, electrocution from touching overhead electric
lines, and being crushed by the auger if it unexpectedly collapses.
Augers accidentally contacting overhead electric lines has
claimed the lives of several Michigan farmers who attempted
to move an auger in the upright position. While the National
Electrical Safety Code requires that all overhead power lines
in the grain bin area be at least 18 feet above the highest
port of the bin (see Figure 2), lowering the auger before
transport will eliminate the risk of touching these lines.
Lowering augers before transport also stabilizes the unit,
reducing the risk of the auger rocking to the side and tipping
over.
Collapse
of the auger undercarriage during transport and while in use
is another common cause of injuries. Workers should secure
the auger to a vehicle rather than move it by hand to avoid
an upend accident where the end of the auger becomes top heavy.
Get out of the way if the end of the auger begins to upend
and lift the base out of the worker:s hands. There is little
that can be done to stop the auger from upending once the
base is lifted above the auger:s center of gravity. Moving
the auger with a tractor will prevent upending accidents and
leveling the soil in the bin area will reduce side to side
rocking.
Once
in position, both ends of the auger should be supported before
operation. Crank the auger down far enough so the top of the
auger rests on the grain bin and block the wheels in place.
Cable
or winch failures are another hazard with augers. Never attempt
to stop a freewheeling crank handle with your hand or foot.
Some augers are equipped with a clutch to prevent freewheeling
and others can be raised and lowered with the tractor:s hydraulic
system. Proper maintenance and storage increases an auger:s
lifespan and reduces accident risks. Frequently inspect and
replace any cables or support legs that are worn or damaged.
An auger
can quickly tangle an operator:s hand or foot unless precautions
are taken to prevent entanglement. Keep all shields in place
and warn workers about the dangers of entanglement. Never
use your hand or foot to dislodge grain that is plugging an
auger. Use a stick or rod to loosen a plug. Tools and other
objects should be picked up and put away to prevent someone
from tripping and falling into an auger.
Dust
and molds are commonly found when harvesting grains that did
not fully mature before the first frost and the harvest season
was wet and cool.
Dusts,
which can develop from small particles (fines) created during
the harvest of immature grains, may result in organic toxic
dust syndrome (OTDS) among individuals. Depending on a person:s
susceptibility, OTDS can develop after a single exposure to
dust and molds or may take several exposures before symptoms
develop. Flu-like symptoms such as coughing, chills, fever,
fatigue, muscle aches, and sometimes shortness of breath that
may begin two to six hours after exposure are symptoms of
OT S. Persons usually feel better within two to three days,
but fatigue and shortness of breath may continue for weeks.
Severe cases may require medical attention.
Molds
that can develop in corn can also produce pneumonitis in humans.
Symptoms include fever, drippy nose, persistent cough and
pneumonia. Symptoms may appear within a few hours after exposure,
or may take up to two weeks to develop.
Farmers
can protect themselves with a dust mask that is manufactured
to filter pollen and plant mold spores. Do not count on a
standard painter:s mask to provide protection from mold or
grain dusts.
There
are several brands available, including a 3-M 8710 or equivalent,
or a 3-M 9920 or equivalent. The cost of these types of masks
are about $1 each. Face masks with disposable cartridges are
also available. Dispose of the mask or filters when normal
breathing becomes difficult through the unit.
Farmers
who rely on dust masks or filters for much of their work may
want to consider an air-purifying helmet that provides the
wearer with constant purified air. These helmets cost about
$700, but workers find them more comfortable to wear for long
periods of time than masks or masks and face shields.
- Fundamentals
of Machine Operation, Agricultural Machine Safety, Deere
and Company, Moline, IL.
- Fundamentals
of Machine Operation, Combine Harvesting, Deere and Company,
Moline, IL.
- Clearance
of Electric Supply Conductors to Grain-Handling Equipment,
AEX-290, Ohio State University Cooperative Extension Service.
- Front
page illustration courtesy of Deere and Company.
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
Michigan
State University, Agricultural Engineering Department.
Howard
J. Doss, Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist; and William
McLeod, Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University
Extension, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. 5/93. Funded by the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health - #UO5/CC-4506052-02.
This
information is for educational purposes only. Reference to
commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement
by the MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
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