Fall Harvest Safety: Take Time to Work Safely
As fall harvest season approaches, SCPPD reminds farmers to make safety a top priority. Harvest brings long hours, large equipment, changing weather, and increased traffic on rural roads. One of the most serious hazards is contact with overhead power lines. Combines, grain carts, augers, semis, and other tall equipment can come dangerously close to power lines, especially when equipment is raised or grain is being unloaded.
Always look up, identify overhead lines, maintain a safe distance, and lower raised equipment before transporting.
Never attempt to move, repair, or adjust a power line, utility pole, guy wire, or other electrical equipment. If equipment contacts a power line, stay inside the cab, keep others away, and call 911 and the utility company.
Harvest equipment also presents mechanical, grain-handling, and fire hazards. Shut off equipment and wait for all moving parts to stop before making adjustments or clearing plugs. Keep guards and shields in place, use three points of contact when climbing on equipment, and keep children and bystanders away from operating machinery and grain bins. Never enter a grain bin while grain is moving, and always shut down and lock out equipment before entering. Keep equipment clean of chaff, dust, and debris to help prevent fires, and carry a properly rated fire extinguisher.
Safety is also important when traveling on rural roads. Use lights, warning signs, and reflective markings, and give other motorists plenty of room. Harvest can mean long hours, so take breaks and get adequate rest to avoid fatigue-related accidents. Before moving equipment, check for people, animals, and obstacles that may be difficult to see.
