Employers have the primary responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their workers. Employees are responsible for following the safe work practices of their employers.

Struck-by Machinery

• Use safe practices when hitching and unhitching wagons. Hitching wagons is often overlooked as a source of injury or death.

  • Do not move a tractor if a worker is between it and the wagon.

  • Back the tractor past the hitch point and ensure that any helpers are at a safe distance, then inch forward from the wagon to align hitch holes.

  • Make sure the wagon is on level ground before unhitching it.

  • Don't pull the hitch pin if there is too much force on it.

  • Chock the wagon's wheels before unhitching.

• Use caution around dump trucks. Stand far enough away to avoid being crushed if the vehicle overturns or the load dumps all at once. Never stand under a raised dump box even if it has been securely blocked.

• Start at the top of the face and work down when removing silage from a pile. Never let an overhang develop. Removing silage from the top of the face first and sloping the face slightly toward the pile, reduces the chance of being struck by and crushed by silage.

• When working with front-end or skid-steer loaders, ensure that the bucket is lowered to the ground, solidly blocked, or supported by the manufacturer's safety stop before servicing, attaching, or removing the loader.

• Always lower the bucket of a loader to the ground and shut the engine off before dismounting machinery. If the bucket is lowered and the engine is off, there is little chance of being crushed.

Struck-by Livestock

• Use care and common sense when working with animals. Never try to hurry an angry animal.

• Be aware that cattle can see nearly 360 degrees without moving their heads, so quick movement behind them may startle them. While cattle do not generally attack you, their size and weight alone can be overwhelming. Leave yourself an "out" when trying to corner or work with cattle.

• Remember that animals may be more aggressive and see you as a threat if they are protecting their young.

• Be calm and deliberate when dealing with animals. Speak gently and do not startle them. They are sensitive to sudden or unexpected loud noises.

• Stay clear of animals that are frightened, hurt, sick, or look suspicious.

• Be alert for sudden movements such as kicking and other actions of nearby animals.

• Wear protective footwear and headgear.

• Check equipment carefully before riding a horse.

Employers have the primary responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their workers. Employees are responsible for following the safe work practices of their employers.

Follow the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including:

Consider implementing recommended safe work practices, including:

To avoid workers being struck by machinery:

• Develop a "safety first" attitude. Follow safe work practices all the time and set a good example for others.

• Ensure that no one rides on farm equipment except those required for its operation, instruction, or diagnostics.

• Make sure, when possible, that tractors are equipped with a Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) cab.

• Adjust tractor wheels to the widest spacing that can be used for a job. The wider the tread width, the less the chance of a sideways overturn.

• Inspect all equipment and correct any hazards before operating. Make sure all workers are familiar with equipment and are aware of pinch points, shear points, wrap points, pull-in areas, thrown objects, crush points, stored energy hazards, and freewheeling parts.

• Educate workers on the hazards of front-end and skid-steer loaders. Keep bucket height as low as possible when moving. The higher the bucket, the higher the center of gravity, which makes an overturn more likely.

• Do not allow workers to remove any safety features of loaders.

To avoid workers being struck by animals:

• Entrust livestock handling jobs only to people with adequate strength and experience.

• Provide training in livestock handling under controlled conditions for youth and other inexperienced workers.

• Restrain known kickers and biters.

• Never tie a lead line to your body. You may become entangled in the line.

• Provide separate facilities for dairy bulls.

• Always have enough help for the job at hand.

• Provide protective footwear and headgear to workers.