Iowa
State University Extension
The
most dangerous spot on your tractor is not in the driver's
seat. It's on the fender, inside the cab, holding onto a grab
bar or any place someone else might catch a ride.
Riders
are not safe on tractors. They can be bumped off during a
rough ride, or crushed, run over or impaled in an overturn
or accident. An enclosed cab can't protect passengers, either.
There are numerous reports of accidents in which passengers
fall out of the cab and are run over by the tractor.
Riders
also can block the operator's vision or become a distraction.
Newer-model
tractors are designed to protect only the operator, not passengers,
when the tractor overturns. Tractor manufacturers and safety
experts suggest a "no rider" rule for most farm equipment,
especially tractors.
Avoid
situations in which others need tractor rides to a field or
remote work area. Use a truck or car to haul passengers.
Remember
that tractors are designed for work, not recreation. Use all-terrain
vehicles or trucks with four-wheel drive for recreational
purposes.
If visitors
or children want to see a tractor, always turn off the engine
before they approach the equipment.
For
more information, contact your local Extension office.
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: February 1993.
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