OVERTON, TX ---- Christmas is a time of
revelry and reverence, colorful lights and decorations, families and fellowship. But
no one wants to have their holidays disrupted or ruined by a serious farm accident, says Bob Young, Kilgore College agriculture
instructor and manager of the College’s 418-acre farm.
Tractor mishaps seem to be very
common this time of year, and it’s very easy for front-end-loaders to become off balance, especially when operating
them at dusk while in a rush to get round hay bales put out, Young says.
“Using the rear lift to transport
hay across pastures can save pressure on the front-end-loader and give the operator a clearer view of what’s ahead,”
says Young. “Then you may use the front hay spear to move the hay ring
around the bale after it has been placed. This procedure helps avoid raising
the front loader too high with a hay bale that can result in excessive instability and possible tractor tip-over,” the
KC instructor notes.
Carrying bales on the front and
rear lifts of the tractor can save time, Young says, provided the front bale is not more than 2-3 feet off the ground and
tires are properly inflated. “A dual load helps maintain stability,”
he says. “Producers must always be wary of tractor speed when carrying large hay bales, especially where unseen holes
or ruts exist in a pasture that can completely disrupt stability.”
Young advises producers to always
use the emergency brake, especially when stopping the tractor on a slight to moderate incline.
“Don’t trust your tractor just because it may be still at the moment.
A rolling out-of-control tractor is extremely dangerous to subdue,” he suggests.
“You don’t want to be the victim of an unnecessary accident.”
Some rural landowners may be using
power saws to cut firewood or clear property during the holidays. Young says
it is advisable to keep both feet solidly on the ground when cutting while wearing steel-toed boots and safety eyewear. “Many accidents occur when the saw handler either stretches too far, is trying
to move too fast, or becomes over-confidant with the saw.”
Young says the vast majority of
farm or rural accidents occur when the landowner is battling time pressures. “We’re
either trying to accomplish a task before dark or ahead of a storm,” he says.
“Sometimes we’re trying to get through because of the cold weather.
That is precisely when accidents are most likely to occur. Whatever the case, we must focus on using time wisely and
properly without cutting corners.”
Farm accidents are impossible to
predict, but most can be avoided, says Young. “None of us cherish the thought
of spending any of our holidays in the hospital emergency room, for ourselves or a family member, due to a preventable farm
accident. Using common sense, proper planning, and time management can help assure
that scenario might not occur,” he says.
Young says more information about
the Kilgore College agricultural program can be obtained at www.KilgoreCollegeAgFarm.org.
--- Kilgore College Agriculture ---
