Tractors
Tractors are one of the main causes of accidental deaths on farms in Australia. Many farmers, farm workers and others living on or visiting farms have been killed or seriously injured falling from moving tractors, being run over by tractors, or being crushed when a tractor rolls sideways or backwards.
 | | You should not drive a tractor unless you have been properly trained and you should always follow safety instructions. |
Ways to reduce the risk
Your employer or supervisor should have safe work procedures in place for driving a tractor to make sure you:
operate the self-starter from the operator position only;
use the seatbelt on tractors fitted with a roll over protective structure (ROPS);
never leave a tractor jacked up in the vicinity of children;
never leave the motor of an unattended tractor running and remove the starter key when a tractor is not in use;
never leave the tractor in a position where it can roll;
never mount or dismount from a moving tractor or when the motor is running; and
never allow passengers of any age on a tractor unless there is a passenger seat fitted.
An example of the dangers of working with tractors is shown in the case study Farmer Escapes Death in Tractor Roll Over.
