Ontario Grain Farmer December 2021/January 2022

Call Customer Care to speak with a consultant. 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) customercare@wsps.ca For free online resources relating to tractor safety, visit: engage.wsps.ca/tractor-safety-2021 The fatality statistics related to tractors are a grim reminder of how dangerous their operation can be. According to an Ontario CAIR Report, 70% of fatalities in agriculture were machine related and of those 61% involved tractors. Tasks including regular equipment checks must be sustained, especially when tractors are being used around the clock. This includes monitoring tire pressure, lights and brakes. It’s important to make sure that implements being towed are also road-ready with hitches, pins and drawbars in good shape and secured properly. Because modern tractors and equipment keep getting bigger, visibility of bystanders is a constant challenge. Operators not having a clear view, and bystanders who assume they are visible and walk directly between the drive wheels, are a dangerous combination. Teach Tractor Safety to Children It is also crucial that children are taught from a young age to not assume that the operator of a tractor is looking out for them, despite their best intentions. Children need to understand that if they can’t see the operator, the operator cannot see them. Along with riders on the fenders, people riding in training seats without using seatbelts still occurs. It just takes one good bump, a door not properly latched and that rider can be ejected and run over. Slow Moving Vehicle signage is something else that can’t be taken for granted. It may be perfectly visible when tractors are being operated on their own but obscured by wagons they may be towing. Be Alert and Ready Before You Start Distracted driving is not just about texting while driving. We can be mentally distracted by our own thoughts wandering to stressors we may be dealing with. Make sure you’re alert and ready to focus before setting out. There are other aspects of tractor safety that are more technical, but just as important in preventing injuries and fatalities. Modern equipment provides safety interlocks controlling the ignition/transmission function. Incidents can still occur if transmission system locks are not maintained. Never Chase Moving Equipment Operators are known to chase after a load of hay or a tractor rolling away from them. Many farm injuries and fatalities have occurred from chasing moving equipment. If you stop and leave the cab, make it a habit to apply the brake. Rollovers are a major cause of tractor fatalities. Having an understanding of a tractor’s center of gravity and its stability zone will guide you to safer operation, including the prevention of rollovers. Finally, one key factor in tractor safety, that has nothing to do with their operation, is communication. Always be sure to inform others on the farm about your planned whereabouts and an estimate of how long you’ll be gone. Be sure cell numbers are exchanged. COVID-19 & Workplace Safety: We Can Help The Governments of Canada and Ontario are providing financial support to help farmers and agri-food workplaces manage and identify transmission risks to protect their workforces from COVID-19. Through Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), farmers and agri-food businesses can access professional advice and consulting services to help them with their COVID-19 needs. Your workplace may be eligible for two days of services tailored to your needs (worth $2,000 – paid for by the federal and provincial governments). Available until February 28, 2022. Please reach out to WSPS by: TELEPHONE 1-877-494-9777 to speak with a customer service representative E-MAIL agriculture@wsps.ca Shifting TRACTOR SAFETY Up a Gear WSPS.CA