A publication of the AgrAbility In Dakota project.
P.O. Box 1206, Mandan, ND 58554 (701) 663-6828 ext 303 or 1-800-247-0698 ext 303
esgwnd@btigate.com - www.ext.nodak.edu/agrability
Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families
Spring 1999 -- Volume 2, Number 1
The used tractor market can provide good opportunities to purchase horsepower at a lower price. However, there can be a problem with shopping on the used farm equipment market; not all the tractors will have the latest safety features that are available. But some of these older tractors in today's agriculture do not have to be as dangerous as they are.
An older tractor can be updated in many ways to provide safe working conditions for the operator. Many of the safety features that make a new tractor safer to work with can be added to older machines with little difficulty.
These categories of safety equipment apply to all farm tractors and machinery:
Rollover protective structures (ROPS) are readily and economically available for many older tractors, providing safety equivalent to the new tractors. It is never a good idea to build your own ROPS. You never know if it is strong enough. A safe, commercially made ROPS is carefully designed and tested to provide operator safety. Check with your dealer or extension ag safety specialist for the availability of a ROPS for your tractor.
Bypass starting is a dangerous practice. All tractors, new and used, should have a shield to prevent it. Most machinery dealers can readily provide bypass starting shields. These shields cover the starter motor terminals that make bypass starting a temptation. Safe and proper booster starting is not hindered with a bypass shield in place.
Every PTO-equipped tractor should have a master shield over the PTO stub shaft. Retrofit PTO shields are available to provide better protection that the tractor may have had originally, so check with your dealer. The master shield should cover the top and sides of the stub shaft and be able to support a 265 lb. man stepping on it.
Be sure that the drawbar and other hitching features are adequate and in good repair. Proper hitching and attachment of equipment will reduce the chance of a rear overturn. Proper ballasting of older tractors will improve their stability. Adding ballast weight and dual rear wheels must be done carefully so tractor parts are not overstressed.
Better seating can provide improved ride and comfort as well as making it easier to reach and operate all the controls safely. Improved operator comfort will reduce the stress from long days on the tractor.
Older tractors can be retrofitted with lighting systems to make them as visible as any. Lighting systems can provide operator convenience and safety equal to that found on new tractors. Turn signal systems and flashing hazard lights as well as reflectors and taillights can be installed to improve safety on the roadway.
Safety equipment that comes with a tractor will be less costly than adding the same equipment to a tractor that does not have it. The safety equipment that is already on a tractor should be a major consideration when shopping in the used tractor market.
If you have to add safety equipment to a tractor after you bought it, there is a chance that it won't get done. But it is a job definitely worth doing. Adding safety equipment to your tractor and other machinery is an investment in your future. It pays you back every morning when you get out of bed to start a new day.
From farming to wood working to being a technician, workers in many industries require respiratory protection. When purchasing a dust mask/respirator, whether it is disposable or reusable, the most important factors to remember are:
1. Check if it has two straps. Two straps will provide satisfactory fit and seal against the face. A single strap does not provide a good fit. Be sure the mask fits the shape of your face and remember that facial hair can prevent the respirator sealing against the skin.
2. Check to see if it is NIOSH approved. NIOSH stands for National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which sets the standards for respirators.
3. Consider what environment you will be working in. Buy a respirator that is environment appropriate. The most common environments farmers/ranchers work in are:
A. Chemical — Required is a cartridge respirator with the ability to absorb and trap vapors and mists with an activated charcoal filter.
B. Once containing airborne particles — Recommended use is a mask. An additional feature to look for in a mask is the exhaust valve. It lets air flow out easily but shuts when air is drawn in so it reduces the effort needed to expel air back out through a partially loaded dust mask.
Dust masks/respirators are not permanent solutions to handling workplace airborne hazards. Substituting materials, using engineering controls to improve ventilation, or enclosing hazardous processes are the first strategies in hazard control.
Giveaway
Wanted
Jamestown Farm Show -- Jamestown
KMOT Ag Show -- Minot
Young Farmer and Ranchers Convention -- Mandan
AgrInternational -- Bismarck
LaMoure Town and Country Days -- LaMoure
Ellendale Area Health and Safety Fair -- Ellendale
ND Winter Show -- Valley City
ND Rural and Public Health -- Bismarck
Morton County Farm Bureau Day -- Mandan
Tom Alexander, Co-Director
AgrAbility In Dakota
P.O. Box 1801, Minot, ND 58702
Bus. (701) 839-4121 - Fax (701) 838-5998
Cell (701) 720-4276 - Res. (701) 852-3471
Email: alextom@minot.com
Trina Gress, Co-Director
AgrAbility In Dakota
P.O. Box 1206, Mandan, ND 58554
Bus. (701) 663-6828 ext. 303 - Fax (701) 663-6859
Toll Free Nationwide 1-800-247-0698 ext. 303
Cell (701) 220-4272 - Res. (701) 221-2649
Email: esgwnd@btigate.com
George Maher, Ag Safety Specialist
NDSU Extension Service
Box 5626, Ag Engineering 115
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5626
(701) 231-8288 - FAX (701) 231-1008
Email: gmaher@ndsuext.nodak.edu
The National Grant Program of the AgrAbility Project is a joint effort of The USDA Extension Service, The National Easter Seal Society and Purdue University's Breaking New Ground Resource Center. Support for this newsletter is provided by the USDA Extension Service; Project #92-EFDA-1-10013.
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