Tractor Safety Reminder

Tractor Safety Reminder

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Tractor Safety Reminder

With the farm and ranch report, I'm Rick Worthington. Recently, a man was flown to the hospital after he was crushed by a tractor. Now, the 68 year old farmer was working on that tractor when it rolled over and came down on top of him. This farmer was pretty fortunate. He was able to call 9-1-1 and got help in time to save his life. And the good news is he is going to recover. The problem is this particular farmer forgot or ignored two very important safety rules when it comes to tractors. He didn't have a rollover protective structure or ROPS, and he wasn't wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The Farm and Ranch Safety Association actually did a series of safety videos, and they're worth a reminder today.

Why does this happen?

Because some farmers don't think rule over protective structures or crops are necessary. They don't install them on older machines or they remove them from newer ones.

By the way, tractor accidents are far from uncommon. Did you know farm workers across the United States are 800 percent more likely to die on the job than in other industries? That's the word according to the Farm Injury Resource Center. The unfortunate truth, they say, is that if you're a farm worker, you're also working in one of the most hazardous industries in the nation and paying attention to safety could and often does save a farmer's life.

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