Hazard Alert: Hazards to Orchard Tractor and Machinery Operators

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  Fatal Incidents: On July 7, 2012, an orchard worker was operating a three-wheeled forklift. After delivering a load of fruit bins, the forklift went off the steep edge of the orchard road, causing it to tip-over, crushing the operator. On July 4, 2012, an orchard worker was changing a tire on a sprayer attached to a tractor when the tractor, which was running, moved forward and the sprayer wheels ran over him. On June 26, 2012, an orchard owner was operating a tractor in a cherry orchard when he was pinned between a large tree limb and the tractor. Recommendations for Preventing Similar Incidents: When working in a new, unfamiliar, or less frequented area, machinery operators should: stop the machine and shut off the engine before proceeding; walk around and inspect the path for any potential hazards like steep road edges or tree branches; note any debris or hazards and make a plan to deal with them. Shut down machinery completely: turn off the engine, remove key, set brakes, set gears to "park", and wait for moving parts to stop before getting off or attempting to do maintenance. Read the machinery's owner's manual and manufacturer's safety guidelines before operating. Wear a seat belt to keep the operator within the safety zone of the ROPS in the case of a flip or roll over. Even when operating within an enclosed cab, a seat belt will prevent being thrown out the door, window, or into the cab frame. Train operators to notice and avoid: operating on steep slopes; improper hitching of towed equipment; hitching tow chains or straps too high; excessive speed when turning; ditches, embankments, and holes; other conditions that may cause tractors to overturn. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mortality Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Machinery Equipment Operation Fatalities Machine Operators Machinery Rollover Protective Structures ROPS Tractors Training
• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• Subseries:
  Hazard Alerts
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1 pdf page
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060768
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 47-21-2012, 2012 Jul; :1
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Hazard alert: hazards to orchard tractor and machinery operators
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ad53d27c3a41a46ffa563fa63eccc1e5c46fed795fd46e87872dab38b389a9d44a97d00850a2fae0b81ec85dfb3b2fd8e39e8617e992de1ed568373aca80fe14
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212905/cdc_212905_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 127.81 KB ]