Safety Tips

[Bird]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Rich, did you get the tiltmeter that registers degrees or percentage of slope? I know the difference can be a little confusing, but by my calculations a 25% slope is only 11.25 degrees. Now I don't like working on side slopes, but that's not too bad so long as you go slow, know whether you might hit a dip or bump, etc. However, if you're talking about 25 degrees, I'd be surprised if you hadn't rolled it.

Bird

 

[RichZ]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Bird, I misstated my previous post. The slope is not over 25% but over 25 degrees. That's what my meter measures. I realize that I could easily have rolled over, and I have you to thank that I never will!!! Thanks, again!!!!

 

[Bird]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Wow, Rich, I thought maybe you had confused degrees and percent./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif If you got away with driving cross ways on 25 degrees you have a lot more nerve than I do./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Straight up and down, yes, but cross ways; no way for me.

Bird

 

[RichZ]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Bird, I didn't do it intentionally! I asked some of my neighbors if the slope was too much, and they said no problem. I was freaking out as I mowed the hill, but I thought i was being paranoid....until I got my tiltmeter!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I'll never take my tractor on that hill again, because the top of it is wooded, so the only way I can get to it is from side to side!!/w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
Rich

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips -Preventing Tractor Side Turnovers

PENPAGES: Factsheets from Pennsylvania State University

Preventing Tractor Turnover To The Side
In 1979 a middle-aged Pennsylvania farmer attempted to drive his tractor across an incline with the front-end loader raised and full of stone. The tractor upset, fatally crushing him. This accident was all the more tragic because he left behind a wife and three daughters.

Tractor overturns result in more farm accident deaths each year than any other farm-related accident. In four out of five of these accidents the tractor is turned over on its side. These statistics are especially unfortunate because nearly all overturns to the side could be avoided. To prevent side rollovers, operators must understand the specific hazards associated with the tractor and the proper safety precautions to apply when using them.

To keep your tractor firmly on the ground you must control the two forces which are responsible for side overturns. One of these forces is gravity. When setting on level ground a tractor's center of gravity is approximately two feet in front of and ten inches above the rear axle. With the center of gravity in this position the tractor is stable. However, if you change the position of the center of gravity by using certain types of mounted equipment or by driving across steep slopes, the tractor's stability decreases and the opportunities for an upset become greater.

Centrifugal force is the other major force involved in tractors turning over. This is the force that pushes at you and your tractor from one side as you turn it around or follow a bend in the roadway. Centrifugal force is dangerous; the pressure it exerts against a turning tractor multiplies rapidly as the tractor's speed increases. For instance, doubling a tractor's speed will increase the centrifugal force four times, tripling it will increase this force nine times. As the pressure exerted against a tractor becomes stronger, short or quick turns can rapidly change the vehicle's center of gravity and cause the tractor to tip over.

Fortunately, both of these forces can be controlled through the application of proper safety precautions. Remember, a tractor's center of gravity should be kept as low to the ground as possible when it is moving. A bump is less likely to tip the tractor and there is less chance that centrifugal force will upset it when turning. Drive a front-end loader with the bucket in a lowered rather than a raised position, and add weights to the tractor of off-set high-mounted liquid fertilizer tanks to keep the tractor's center of gravity low.

Tractors should be driven no faster than conditions will allow. Speed reduces the stability of tractors. Be alert to hazards in your path such as rocks, holes, or other obstructions and make your turns cautiously and at reduced speeds.

Proper braking of the tractor also reduces the chance of upset. Before driving at transport speeds, lock the brake pedals together to insure even braking pressure (brakes must be evenly adjusted). Braking only one pedal at higher speeds can force your vehicle to swerve abruptly and roll over. When travelling downhill, shift to a lower speed before you begin to descend and let the engine do most of the braking. This will help avoid the possibility of a runaway tractor which could flip over.

The safety-minded operator will avoid crossing steep slopes with his tractor if at all possible. Tractors are less stable on hillsides and can be easily over-turned. If you must work on slopes, however, use tractors with wide front ends and space your rear tires as far apart as possible. Watch for bumps or depressions and cross the slope slowly, keeping any side-mounted equipment on the uphill side of the tractor.

Together with safe operation of the tractor, it is a good idea to safeguard yourself with the extra protection provided by a roll-over protective structure. Roll-over protective structures are either protective frames or protective enclosures which, when mounted on the tractor, will limit most upsets to 90 degrees as well as protect the operator, particularly if the operator is wearing the seatbelt.

The safety oriented operator must always be concerned about maintaining his tractor in a stable position. By applying these five safety precautions the chances for turning your tractor over on its side will be greatly reduced:

1. Remember to keep the tractor's center of gravity as low to the ground as possible.

2. Drive no faster than conditions will permit.

3. Lock your brakes before travelling at transport speed and, if possible, use the engine as a braking mechanism when going downhill.

4. Avoid crossing steep slopes. If you must, drive slowly and position side-mounted equipment on the uphill side of the tractor.

5. Guard your life by installing roll-over protective structures on your tractor and use the seatbelt.


Author: Dennis J. Murphy, Associate Prof. Ag. Engr. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Penn State February 1988 PENpages Number: 0870186
__________________________________________

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips -Preventing Tractor Rollovers

Rearward & Sideways Tractor Rollovers

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Say what? Isn't there a little polarization here? Why can't someone be alert, safety minded, A N D have a clinometer (tiltmeter)????? I think flying an airplane is quite analgous to driving a tractor. Both are trivial motor skills with a little practice. It is the thinking about what to do and anticipating and avoiding potential problems when able and training to be able to react safely when something unanticipated happens that makes them serious adult activities. Surely you wouldn't put down a pilot just because he equips his aircraft with an altimeter, turn and bank indicator, artificial horizon, etc??? I suppose real carpenters don't use LASER levels or pneumatic nailers, either. Oh well,invite me to your next monthly Ludite meeting and we can discuss this further.

 

[ddl]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

A cpmparison that is not a comparison. The plane is designed to turn and bank and even roll over. With instruments to indicate the degree of turn. The only comparision would be the stall horn, but nor really for once a stall occurs, you have time to correct the condition. The problem with a tiltmeter is that it is to tell you when the slope is too steep. But steepness is not the reason most ti[povers happen. It is the sudden change in surface, e.g. dropping a wheel in a hole, that causes rollover. Using the meter to tell if the slope is too steep with the meter attached to the tractor, provides no protection for if it is too steep to drive on, why are you driving on the slope. A better idea is to mount the meter on a long 2X4 and lay the 2X4 on the slope and check the steepness. This makes sense. A 2X4 is cheaper than the tractor.

Dan L

 

[RBManufacturing]

Re: Safety Tips - Tractor Overturn Hazards

Hi ddl,
I agree that MANY roll-overs are due to sudden changes.
I must dis-agree with the statement that ROLL-OVERS are
caused by sudden changes. NOT TRUE. I returned home last
night from a trip to another state where I was invited to
come and speak with a Highway dept. engineer, tractor
operators, and safety techs. The meeting was called, due
to an operator being killed last year when his tractor rolled.
(The brush hog landed on top of the upper half of his body.)
He either did not have his seat belt on, or unsnapped it just
before going over. The accident sight was examined by
engineers, police, safety people, and OSHA. Tire tracks were
examined and NO SUDDEN CHANGES, HOLES ETC. WERE
PRESENT!!!!! The road side gradually changed in steepness.
A ten mile stretch of road was examined, and of course found
to vary greatly in slope. The roll-over point was just another
gradual increase/decrease in steepness. The conclusion of
ALL EXPERTS involved in the investigation was that the
operator was on too steep a gradual slope, and had no way
to determine his status on the slope. I spoke with 16 tractor
operators, and all have from 3 to 17 years experience driving
tractors. The highway dept. that invited me, bought 4 meters
a few months ago for testing. One operator with 11 yrs. of
experience told me when he put his meter on, he at first did
not pay attention to it. He thought it was a waste of money.
But he said after a few weeks, he found himself occasionally
looking at it when he was on a questionable slope. He says
the meter, if nothing else is a reminder of the dangers of
slope operation. (He ordered two more meters while I was there). One for his home tractor, and one for his sons.
Final conclusion of all investigators involved was, THIS
accident Might have been prevented with a tilt meter. Might
not. His friends, and family, as well as the highway dept.
wish he had one, and the out come might have been different.
I brought up the argument I have read here. Will the meter
give any of you operators a false sence of security?
Every operator agreed that the meter would more than likely
make them more aware to use more caution when the meter
says they are in a caution zone shown on the meter.
They also agreed that SOME roll-overs would occur even with
a meter. I have had numerous close calls driving a tractor
for a highway dept. I have also had two roll-overs.
If I could have prevented either one with some warning
device, It would have been worth it. Maybe I could have
turned that roll-over in to a close call, not a roll-over.
Drinking my orange juice every morning may not prevent
cancer, but I like having that edge. Lets say there are
2000 roll-overs a yr. If the use of a meter prevented only
one, I would be pleased. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing
http://www.tiltmeter.com
(816)587-9814

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

John,

Being tired and in a hurry, simply not stopping to think, takes lives. My brother was killed in a logging accident about 10 years ago. He was working alone and just had to get one more tree. The last one on the slope. In a hurry, job almost done. The usual stuff. We figure he didn't judge the tree right, made his cut and it started going the wrong way. Took a step back and hit a bit of wet wood. 12 hours later, his skidder was still idling nearby. Just wasn't thinking, not paying attention. Same grind day in and day out, you get too familiar with the situation and figure "I can squeeze just a bit more."

SHF