A 21 st Century SAE: Exploring Risk Management & Safety with Digital Field Photos

Transcription

1 A 21 st Century SAE: Exploring Risk Management & Safety with Digital Field Photos Henry Cole, EdD Larry Piercy, PE, CSP Workshop presented at the November 2010 NAAE Convention, Los Vegas, NV The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of six Kentucky agriculture education teachers and 119 FFA students who helped to develop and field test the checklist by inspecting 153 farm tractors. The project was supported by CDC/NIOSH cooperative agreements, 3U50OH S2 and 5U50OH and approved by human subjects research protocol IRB No P2G. Southeast Center for Agricultural Heath and Injury Prevention 1

2 How to use this tutorial These PowerPoint slide notes explain how to use the Farm Tractor Visual Safety Inspection Checklist to inspect photos of 16 sets of tractor safety systems. Each slide has color photos of specific tractor parts and/or systems. Examine the right-hand side of the paper checklist to find the section for rating the tractor part and/or system shown in each photo. After you decide on a safety rating for the part or system shown in each slide, scroll down to the notes section in the white space at the bottom of the slide. Compare your safety rating to the rating and information provided in the notes. During this tutorial refer to the information in first column of the checklist. Do not mark your safety rating in the columns at the right of the checklist. Read the material in the notes at the bottom of the slide, and then begin. 2

3 Using the checklist This presentation explains how to use the checklist. Photographs show key roadway safety features of tractors. Many different tractors are shown. Each photo focuses on one or two safety features. Each safety feature is assigned a rating from 1 to 5 (with 1 = the lowest rating and 5 = the highest rating). The notes explain the safety features shown in these slides. 3

4 Section A. Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) A ROPS is a rollover protective structure that sometimes is called a roll bar or roll cage. This tractor has a 4-post ROPS that encloses the cab and provides maximum protection to the operator during an overturn or collision. 4

5 Does this tractor have a 4-post ROPS? Yes No 5

6 A modern 2-post ROPS This tractor has a 2-post ROPS. If viewed from the back reveals that the ROPS is attached to the rear axle housing. Notice the hinges on the ROPS upright bars just above the turn signal lights. What are these for? 6

7 A homemade or modified ROPS This photo shows the top left of a 2-post ROPS. Note the weld mark where the ROPS was cut, the bracket for the light welded and bolted to the ROPS. 7

8 Does this tractor have a ROPS? Note that no ROPS is attached to the rear axle housing. This older tractor was not equipped with a ROPS when it was manufactured and sold. 8

9 Section B. Seatbelts (Rate these seatbelts) The seatbelt at the left has retractors. The worn place at the center of the seatbelt latch resting on the tractor seat means the seatbelt is used. The seatbelt at the right has no retractors. The belt is dirty and tangled beneath the seat, difficult to reach, and remains unused. 9

10 Damaged seatbelt A damaged or improperly anchored seatbelt may not hold an operator within the ROPS protective zone. A seatbelt should never be used on a tractor without a ROPS. If a non-rops tractor overturns an operator belted to the seat cannot be thrown free and may be crushed beneath the tractor during an 180 degree sideways or rear overturn. 10

11 Good seat, no seatbelt The seat on this older tractor was replaced but the seatbelt was not. 11

12 Section C. Tractor seat. (Rate these tractor seats) 12

13 Rate the safety of each tractor seat Note that there are no armrests. Note the good condition of the seat cushions. Why are armrests important? Note that there are armrests but that the seat and the armrests cushions are damaged. Why are cushions important? 13

14 Rate the seats on these tractors 14

15 How would you rate this tractor seat? 15

16 Section D. Slow moving vehicle emblem (SMV) (Rate these SMV emblems) The photo at the right is a new SMV with an orange fluorescent center triangle for day time visibility and a red retro-reflective outer triangle for night time visibility. It is mounted on a disc hay mower/conditioner. Similar SMVs in good condition, mounted at the center rear of two tractors are in the background. The SMV on the left has a faded center and outer triangle that has lost much of its reflectivity. Your rating of SMV on left = Your rating of SMV on right = 16

17 How would you rate this SMV? 17

18 How would you rate these SMVs? Hay wagon with SMV FFA student inspecting a tractor 18

19 Rate this tractor s SMV emblem Your safety rating for the tractor s SMV = 19

20 Section E. Bypass starting (Rate this tractor s bypass starting hazard.) The arrow points to an enlarged view of the starter motor and starter terminals located on the engine of the tractor on the left. The positive and negative starter terminals are not covered. 20

21 More about dangerous bypass starting The photo below is another tractor starter that lacks a proper terminal cover to prevent bypass starting and a warning decal that warns against doing so. The photo above shows a man placing the a screwdriver blade across the uncovered terminals of a tractor starter. This very dangerous practice that has resulted in many injuries and deaths. It can save time but is not worth one s life. 21

22 Two bypass starting terminal covers 22

23 A properly guarded and labeled safe starter system Prominent, bight, and clean bypass warning safety decal and message Hard starter terminal safety cover. 23

24 Section F. Power take off-master shield (What is wrong and right with this tractor?) PTO driveline shield Tractor PTO stub drive shaft 24

25 Tractor PTO connected to a manure spreader PTO driveline The above photo shows the tractor PTO connected to the driveline to the manure spreader. 25

26 How would you rate this tractor s PTO master shield? PTO master shield Tractor PTO stub shaft PTO master shield Bolts that hold the PTO master shield in place PTO master shield 26

27 How would you rate this PTO master shield? Note the unguarded quick connector portion of the PTO driveline. 27

28 How do you rate this PTO master shield? 28

29 Rate these two PTO master shields Shield base plate PTO master shield hinge PTO master shield 29

30 How would you rate these two PTO master shields? 30

31 Section G. Access steps/mount & dismount systems Handholds for grasping when climbing on or off the tractor Steps for climbing on and off the tractor This tractor has access steps and handholds on both sides of the tractor. The handhold on the left side is visible on the left fender. A recent study of worker compensation records from multiple states found that the most common serious farm tractors-related injuries were from falls when the operator was getting on or off a tractor. 31

32 How would you rate this mount/dismount system? This photo shows a handhold in the fender of a similar but older John Deere tractor. The tractor at the left has a similar handhold just to the right of its headlight on the fender. How many handholds does the tractor on the left have? 32

33 Rate these two farmers way of dismounting. Safe or unsafe? Safe or unsafe? 33

34 Rate these tractors mount/dismount systems View from operator s seat on the above tractor. 34

35 How would you rate these three tractors? Your safety rating = Your safety rating = Your safety rating = 35

36 How would your rate this tractor s access system? 36

37 Section H. Operator platform (Rate the tractor operator platforms) 37

38 Rate the flooring on these two tractors 38

39 How would you rate these platforms? 39

40 Section I. Rear wheel fenders Added metal shield that protects the operator s feet and legs 40

41 Driver protected from the rotating rear tires? 41

42 How would you rate these fenders? 42

43 Section J. Rearview mirrors (Do these tractors have rearview mirrors?) 43

44 How would you rate these tractors mirrors? 44

45 Section K. Headlights and taillights (Rate this tractor s lighting and marking) Rear view of the tractor on the left 45

46 Rate this tractor s lighting and marking Your safety rating = 46

47 Rate this tractor s lighting and marking The two photos are of the same tractor. The left photo shows the tractor in a barn. (Sunlight from cracks between the boards makes the light patches on the rear tire.) 47

48 Rate the lighting for these two tractors The photo on the right shows a rear yellow flasher light that has a cracked lens. Although not shown the tractor on the right has two headlights, one on each rear fender, a flasher on the right fender that works but that is bent nearly sideways, and no SMV emblem. 48

49 Section L. Warning flashers and turn signals This is a rear and front view of the same modern 4-post tractor with an enclosed cab. Your safety rating for warning flashers and turn signals = 49

50 Two 7-pin electrical connectors Seven-pin electrical connector with its cover in the closed position. The connector is located just below the bottom left side of the SMV emblem on the tractor show in the previous slide. This is the same seven-pin electrical connector with its cover in the open position. 50

51 Section M. Fire extinguisher Tractor fires not only result in damage to the tractor, but often to equipment being operated by the tractor and to crops such as hay, corn, grain, etc. Sometimes crop fires travel to and engulf farm buildings and structures. Occasionally a tractor driver may be seriously injured or die from burns while attempting to fight the fire or if trapped in the operator compartment or cab. 51

52 Rate this tractor s fire prevention readiness 52

53 Section N. Tires and wheels front and rear A B C D E Assign a safety rating to each tire. Then look at the notes to see how you did. 53

54 Rate these tractor tires Your safety rating = The two photos above are front and rear views of the same tractor 54

55 Rate these tractor tires 55

56 Section O. Exhaust system D C B A This tractor s exhaust system has an exhaust manifold (A), a muffler (B) under the tractor s hood), an exhaust pipe (C), and a flop (D) at the top of the vertical exhaust pipe. When the tractor engine is running the exiting exhaust flips the flop up. When the engine is off the flop drops down and covers the exhaust pipe. 56

57 Rate the exhaust system on this tractor Your safety ratings = Note: Tractor exhaust pipes may have a curve at the top rather than a flop. Either design keeps rain out of the exhaust system to prevent rusting. 57

58 Two methods for keeping rain out of exhaust systems When rainwater enters the exhaust pipe it runs down into the muffler and into the manifold. As is sits there when the tractor is not running it rusts the metal surfaces. Over time it degrades the exhaust system and holes and leaks may result. Both the flop on the exhaust pipe on the left tractor and the curved end of the exhaust pipe on the tractor at the right effectively keep rainwater out of the exhaust systems. Note that the muffler is above the hood in the tractor on the left, but under the engine on the tractor at the right. 58

59 Rate these exhaust systems Your safety rating = Your safety rating = Your safety rating = 59

60 What s wrong with this tractor? 60

61 Section P. Other tractor features (Instrument panel gauges) Two instrument panels. The right photo is a closeup shot with more detail. Can you read its hours of operation? RPMs = 0. Why is this? (The ghostlike images are reflections of the photographer s fingers and camera.) The instrument panel on the left RPM and hours meter. The gauges shown are electronic displays and visible only when the tractor ignition is on. The RPMs = 0. What does this mean? Can you read the hours of operation? (The light splotches are sunlight reflected from the instrument panel Plexiglas cover.) 61

62 Electrical system A B Rate each tractor s electrical system. A B C D C D 62

63 Find the fire hazards in this photo Gravity flow fuel tank Rubber fuel line and hose clamp Metal fuel line Fuel pump Fuel sediment bowl Exhaust system Uncovered starter terminals Starter motor 63

64 Grease, oil, chafe on engine, transmission, radiator A B C B Your safety rating =? Your safety rating =? Your safety rating =? 64

65 Acknowledgements This project s initial development was supported by CDC/NIOSH Cooperative Agreement 3U50OH S2. The human subjects procedures were approved by University of Kentucky IRB # P2G. Dr. Henry Cole was principal investigator and Mr. Larry Piercy co-principal investigator. Colleagues Katheryn Heinz, Susan Westneat, and Heather Arrowsmith assisted with the initial development. CDC/NIOSH Cooperative Agreement 5U50OH supported continued development of the project materials and methods. Dr. Joan Mazur was the principal investigator and Dr. Henry Cole co-principal investigator and primary author of these materials. In both cases the funds were awarded to the University of Kentucky, Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. William Evans, Mr. Ryan Williams, Mr. David Bird, Mr. Stacy Vincent, Mr. Daniel Mattingly, and Mr. Michael Jones, each of whom at the time of the initial study was a Kentucky high school agriculture teacher. We are especially indebted to the 119 FFA high school students who conducted 153 tractor safety inspections, and to the farmers whose tractors were inspected. Ms. Teresa Donovan provided editorial assistance for the second portion of the project. 65