A 53-year-old male farm equipment worker (victim) died after he was struck by the metal frame of a sprayer. The victim and a coworker were attempting to attach the sprayer to the three-point hydraulic lift of a tractor. The sprayer's frame was hinged in two locations to enable the width of the machine to be reduced during transport on roadways and to reduce the size of the storage area for the machine. Two stacks of wooden blocks were placed under the frame of the sprayer when it was unhooked. The coworker backed the tractor to the sprayer while the victim stood near the unit in front of the raised left wing of the sprayer. The tractor operator apparently failed to position the tractor so all three hitch points were aligned. When he moved the tractor forward to reposition it, the left most hitch point on the sprayer caught on the corresponding hitch point on the tractor. The left side of the sprayer was pulled forward slightly and it began to tip from the wooden blocks. The operator stopped the tractor but the sprayer tipped against the tractor and the frame of the raised left wing struck the victim. The operator got off the tractor but was unaware that the victim had been struck. When he walked to the victim's location, he noticed the victim leaning against the rear tractor wheel. The victim was bleeding from a small cut on his head. The coworker helped the victim sit down on the ground and instructed him to remain seated while he placed a call to emergency personnel. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after being notified of the incident. The victim was transported to a local hospital and immediately transferred to a major medical center where he died several hours later. MN FACE investigators concluded that, in order to reduce the likelihood of similar occurrences, the following guidelines should be followed: 1. portable machines and equipment should be designed and built with permanent adjustable support stands

2. blocks used to support machines and equipment should be positioned to provide maximum stability.

and 3. employers should design, develop, and implement a comprehensive safety program.