Machinery and work equipment safety

• Author: International Labour Organization
• Pages: 42-56

42 Meetings-MESHA-Final Code-2010-10-0355-1-En.doc/v2

8. Machinery and work equipment safety

8.1. Introduction

8.1.1. Agriculture involves the use of a wide variety of hazardous machinery and

processes. Among the most common are tractors, cultivators, harrows, seeding equipment,

sprayers, harvesters, mowers, balers, grinders, trucks, wagons, trailers, all-terrain vehicles,

augers, manure spreaders, and elevating equipment. In addition, a wide range of tools are

used both in agricultural production and when carrying out repairs. The safety features of

equipment and tools should be key considerations at the time of purchase as well as the

adaptability of usage for both women and men workers.

8.1.2. The principal safety risks include traumatic injuries including, but not limited

to, cuts, burns, electrocution, fractures and amputations caused by contact with cutters,

gears, belts, shafts and other moving parts, burst hydraulic hoses and contact with live

electrical equipment. Such injuries occur not only during the course of production but also

during maintenance and repairs, cleaning, clearing blockages, etc. The effects of such

injuries can be all the more serious because many farm workers work alone and first aid or

medical help may be far away.

8.1.3. The safety standards set by the competent authority with regard to the design,

manufacture, installation and use of agricultural machinery and equipment and any

necessary market surveillance should be undertaken before such equipment is used.

8.2. Tractors and ATVs

8.2.1. Hazard description

8.2.1.1. Farm tractors are the most important piece of power equipment used in

agriculture and are associated with a major proportion of injuries and deaths in agricultural

production and maintenance. Older tractors warrant special attention as they are often not

fitted with up-to-date safety equipment, such as rollover protective structures (ROPS) and

seat belts.

8.2.1.2. Most tractors have rubber tyres, hydraulic systems and power-take-off

(PTO) and utilize a combination of engine speeds and gear ratios. The most serious

hazards associated with tractor operations include overturns, run-overs and PTO

entanglement.

8.2.1.3. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are used as transport vehicles in many

countries, in part because they provide the first step away from draught animals in some

enterprises, and in part because they can perform many tractor-like operations within close

quarters, inside agricultural structures, other enclosures, and in livestock operations.

8.2.1.4. Hazards associated with tractors and ATVs can be grouped into instability

resulting in rollovers, run-overs, PTO stub and other miscellaneous risks including, but not

limited to, slips and falls when climbing on or off tractors and ATVs, crushing injuries

from unintended rolling, and driving under low-hanging branches.

8.2.1.5. Tractors that do not have up-to-date health and safety features such as

rollover protection structures (ROPS), seat belts and temperature-controlled cabs require

specific risk assessment, and such safety features should be retrofitted where possible.