Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety
Author: Rental Equipment Register

An Idaho man was crushed to death when the tractor he was driving turned over while he was trying to pull a weighty object with a heavy chain. Also killed was his 2-year-old son who was riding with him. The tractor was not equipped with a roll bar or seat belts.

Unfortunately, this type of rollover accident is not an isolated case. Several hundred fatal farm accidents, and a lot more injuries, occur every year, with overturns accounting for nearly 50 percent of tractor fatalities. Sadly, the majority of them could have been prevented.

Consider the following 10 safety tips:

Know your tractor, its implements and how they work. Read and understand the operator's manual before operating the equipment. Also, keep your equipment in good condition.

Use ROPS (rollover protective structures) and seat belt whenever and wherever applicable. If your tractor has a foldable ROPS, fold it down only when absolutely necessary, and fold it up and lock it again as soon as possible. Do not wear the seat belt when the ROPS is folded. Most tractor fatalities are caused by overturns.

Be familiar with your terrain and work area - walk the area first to be sure and drive safely. Use caution on slopes, slow down for all turns and stay off the highway whenever possible.