Preventing Serious Tractor Injuries

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Agriculture can be a dangerous business. Tragedy can beset workers and members of their families. This was reality again in 2015 punctuated with incidents like the loss of children’s lives on an Alberta farm. This should awaken or remind us all of the ever present dangers in agriculture.

The Canadian Agriculture Safety Association manages an agricultural fatality and injury surveillance program called CAIR. In the period from 1990-2012, CAIR reported that an average in excess of 100 deaths occurred each year on farms and ranches in Canada. In their most recent report, machine rollovers and runovers were identified as the continued leading cause of fatalities in Canada. Further they identified that experience did not negate the danger as the 60 and over age groups experienced the highest fatality rate. Many of these incidents involve entanglements in a piece of machinery, the majority of which occur when a piece of clothing gets caught. A serious tractor incident can happen to anyone.

Working safely cannot be inherited; it must be taught, learned and practiced. To ensure due diligence, an owner,

manager or supervisor must require operators to be educated and trained in the safe operation of all mobile equipment, including tractors. This training must be documented and ongoing. Adequate supervision is required to ensure safe operating standards are adhered to. A practical evaluation of operators displaying competency to a qualified supervisor forms part of this due diligence. Regular safety discussions with operators on tractor related issues and topics are also an important part of ensuring safety remains top of mind. Many tragedies that happen could be prevented by taking the time to follow safe operational practices.

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) co-ordinates, develops and leads national initiatives to help farmers, their families and workers recognize and manage safety risks. As part of their mandate, a fund is available to bring safety training to your community. The FCC AgSafety Fund helps deliver agriculture safety training to farmers and/or their workers across Canada. In 2015 this fund was used to assist with tractor safety training across Canada.

In British Columbia, AgSafe offers on site consultations, safety training and information and helps you address compliance requirements. As part of this valuable service AgSafe (formerly FARSHA) provides a Tractor Safety Training Program. This training session covers incident statistics to help identify how these incidents occur. Applicable regulations, tractor stability, pre-shift inspections, safe operations and managing risks are additional topics covered by the course. AgSafe also works with employers and/or supervisors to establish safe work practises associated with and involving tractor operations. It is essential to have ongoing supervision, an effective pre-shift inspection and a maintenance program which combine to help reduce risks of injury when operating mobile equipment and specifically tractors. Correcting what may seem like a small action or making a minor repair can help prevent an incident from becoming very serious. Tractor safety training should be an integral part of your farm’s safety program.

For assistance to initiate or improve your safe tractor operations or other worker safety concerns please contact your regional AgSafe safety consultant. In the Okanagan call Carol Reid at 250-215-5293, carol@agsafebc.ca, or the AgSafe office toll free at 1-877-533-1789

Safety Tips

  •  Conduct a pre shift inspection
  •  Use a Roll Over Protective System (ROPS) and seat belt
  •   Conduct a thorough risk assessment for the tractor, implement and tasks
  •   Keep loads low when travelling
  •   Always keep an eye out for pedestrians, do not move tractor without eye to eye contact with pedestrian
  •   No extra riders on tractor, bucket, or forks
  •   Follow recommended hitching procedures and weight limits
  •  Turn on level ground whenever possible
  •   Stay away from soft shoulders
  •   Ensure brakes are in good condition and properly locked for high speeds
  •   Use a Slow Moving Vehicle sign and ROPS on public roads
  •   Ensure loads are properly secured
  •   Read and observe the safety recommendations and precautions found in the owners manual