Farmers Cooperative Company Iowa Agriculture: Farm Safety Tip

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Read the operator’s manual (again). Haying equipment is used only during the summer, giving you nearly a year to forget the safety warnings.
Keep yourself alert during harvest season: Drink plenty of liquids, eat regular meals, get enough sleep, and take breaks.
Make sure all guards and shields are in place on all your harvesting equipment.
NEVER try to unplug the baler until you have disengaged the power take-off, shut off the tractor engine, and put the ignition key in your pocket.
For conventional balers, remember the flywheel keeps the machine operating for a considerable time after power is disengaged. Never work on a baler until the fly wheel has completely stopped.
For round balers, Make sure twine is properly threaded and the twine arm is adjusted and in good working condition. Do not feed twine by hand into the baler.
With forage wagons, stay clear of the discharge conveyor while operating. Remain in the tractor seat.
With cutting equipment, never try to adjust cutter bars, reels, or conditioning rollers without disengaging the power. Avoid rushed movements when working close to the equipment, even when stationary, because of it’s sharp edges and points.