Safety Tips For Operating A Tractor
A tractor is a powerful piece of agricultural equipment, which means there is an inherent safety risk to using it. The combination of size, power, speed, and implements can result in dangerous situations for the operator as well as any people or animals in the area. While you can't prevent every possible accident, you can take proactive steps to decrease the safety risks of tractor operation.
We've gathered up the following safety tips for tractor operation. If you want more advice or want to shop tractors for sale in Texas, contact Cliff Jones Mahindra Tractor. We are based in Sealy, Texas, and also serve those in Houston and Victoria.
Understand The Safety Risks Of Your Specific Tractor
Take a moment to read through the owner's manual and focus on safety tips. It's also wise to look over the tractor for safety labels. Yellow labels indicate caution, orange labels indicate warning, and red labels indicate danger.
Dress With Safety In Mind
Sure, you don't need a helmet or other such safety gear. But it is important to dress for a safe tractor operation experience.
Grab hearing protection and eye protection. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes with non-skid soles. Avoid wearing loose-fitting or flowy clothing that could get caught in the various tractor parts.
Prevent Rearward Rollovers
A common tractor accident is a rollover. Here, the rear wheels can't rotate enough to push the tractor forward...so it ends up tipping backwards.
To prevent rearward rollovers:
- Avoid working on slopes
- Avoid backing the tractor up hills
- Stabilize your tractor before tackling heavy work
- Use tire chains or boards to help improve traction-Double check that any attachments are hitched properly
- Focus on changing speed slowly and applying power smoothly
Prevent Sideways Rollovers
Another common tractor accident happens when the vehicle tips onto its side, which can also be dangerous and problematic.
Start with a preventative effort. Invest in a roll-over protection structure. If a rollover does happen, the operator will be better protected.
Next, focus on:
- Limiting use on a slope
- Approaching turns slowly
- Stabilizing the tractor as needed
- Staying away from roadside ditches
Regularly Inspect The Tractor
Some safety issues happen out of broken tractor parts and systems. Try to keep your tractor in as good of condition as possible. Conduct thorough inspections so that you can catch problems early before they manifest into more serious (and more expensive) situations. Plus, it's better to uncover a red flag in an inspection rather than in the middle of an accident!
We hope you found these tractor safety tips helpful. When you're ready to shop tractors for sale in Texas, check out the inventory at Cliff Jones Mahindra Tractor. We can go over the models and the financing process, helping to keep the shopping process hassle-free. Reach out to our friendly staff or stop by our dealership in Sealy, Texas. We also are proud to serve those in Houston and Victoria, Texas.