Guides & Toolkits

38 150-008-01-IADO © 2014, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | www.wsps.ca tailgate talks – recognizing coMMon farM eqUiPMent Hazards All farm workers should learn to recognize the following hazard points on farm equipment, and take appropriate actions to avoid accidental contact. 1. Pinch points exist where two parts move together, with at least one of them turning in a circle. Examples include chain drives, belt drives, gear drives, and feeder rolls. Clothing can become caught and drawn into a pinch point. Never reach into the area near a rotating part. 2. Pull-in accidents happen when a person tries to unclog or feed material by hand into an operating machine. Feed rolls and other machine components are simply too fast. Never kick a wad of hay into a baler pick up. 3. Wrap points exist wherever there is an exposed, rotating shaft. Never try to remove twine that is partially wrapped around a shaft which is in rotation. Once material is caught by the shaft, there is no escape. Important wrapping hazards include: Shaft ends which protrude beyond bearings Splined, square and hex-shaped shafts are most likely to wrap hair or clothing Couplers, u-joints, keys, and other fasteners on shafts increase the wrapping hazard Exposed beaters and pickup reels are also a wrapping threat 4. Shear points exist where the edges of two components move across each other (like scissors). A cutting point is created when an object moves forcefully enough to cut relatively soft material. Shearing and cutting devices are widely used on harvesting equipment. The active parts may rotate (rotary mower) or reciprocate (sickle bar). Cutting and shear points also exist on several devices that are not designed to cut material. 5. Thrown objects-some farm machines can propel objects great distances with tremendous force. Rotary mowers and flail choppers can hurl small stones and other debris. Combine straw choppers and hammer mills can fling kernels and other crop material with considerable force. 6. Freewheeling parts on farm equipment may continue to rotate for two minutes or more after power is disengaged. Examples include forage harvester cutter heads, hammer mills, baler flywheels, rotary mowers, and blower fans. 7. Crush points are created when two objects move toward each other, or when one object moves toward a stationary item. A crush point exists between an implement tongue and a tractor drawbar. Other examples of potential crush points include jacked-up equipment, raised hydraulic components, and overhead garage doors. Never work under raised equipment unless it is securely blocked. wsps.ca

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