NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

March 5, 1998

Make Spring Repairs Safe Repairs

Unseasonally warm weather may be prompting some early spring repair work on farm machinery. A result is an increase in skinned knuckles, pinched fingers and other common and more serious repair-related injuries.

"Typically, the number of agricultural injuries nearly doubles from March to April. The spring rush is primarily responsible for that increase," notes George Maher, an agricultural safety specialist with the NDSU Extension Service. "Open wounds, fractures, and skeletal and musculature injuries are common and many of them are related to repairs and other work with heavy farm equipment."

Maher notes that many of the injuries can be prevented with if hand tools are used safely.

"Much of the repair work on tillage and planting equipment involves the use of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, punches and chisels," he says. "Each tool has its own hazards and maintenance requirements."

To reduce the chance of injury, Maher offers rules for working safely with hand tools:

• Choose the right tool for the job.
• Use the tool correctly.
• Keep the tool in safe condition.
• Use the tool correctly and safely.

He also outlines some general guidelines for working safely with various tools:

• Wrenches. Wrenches are designed to be safe with a certain handle length. Extending the handle of a wrench for more leverage is not safe. Select the right size and type of wrench to reduce the chance of tool failure and injury. Pull on wrenches rather than pushing to give yourself more control over where your hand will go if the wrench slips or the nut turns suddenly. If you must push with a wrench, be alert to where your hand will go and push with an open palm.
• Screwdrivers. For safe screwdriver use, the tip should be shaped to fill the slot of the screw. Watch out for rounded or sharp tips and loose handles. Don't use screwdrivers as pry bars or punches.
• Punches and chisels. Wear safety glasses or goggles when using punches and cold chisels. Chips will break off and fly from mushroomed heads of punches and cold chisels and can cause injury to unprotected eyes. Mushroomed heads should be ground to a taper to reduce the chance of eye injury. Don't hold punches or chisels in locking pliers. A chisel that jars loose can be a dangerous projectile.
• Hammers. Ball-peen hammers, not carpenter's hammers, should be used on punches and cold chisels. The head of the ball-peen hammer is properly hardened for this type of work. A hammer with a loose head is dangerous. Use the right hammer for the job. Hammers that are too light may not do the job. If a hammer is too heavy, it may be difficult to control.
• Pliers. Slip-joint pliers are probably the most popular style of plier used on the farm, but they have dangers too. Don't substitute pliers for wrenches. They're likely to slip and result in injury to you or damage to the work. Never extend the handles of pliers for more grip. The tool is likely to break and cause injury. When pliers become worn and readily slip from one adjustment to the other they should be discarded because they are dangerous and unreliable.

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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629