Title
Statistics
In 2022, 13 cases involving agricultural machinery that resulted in an injury occurred. There were 19 people involved in the cases with 10 fatalities.
- Most of the incidents occurred in May and September (three incidents each)
- Most cases occurred during planting and harvest activities in spring and fall
- Eight of 13 cases involved tractors.
- Seven of 13 occurred on roadways.
- The average age of people involved in the incidents was 44 years.
- The oldest victim was 81 years old; the youngest was 10 years old.
- Over half of the victims were 34 years or older, with 21% being 65 years or older.
Prevention
- Always wear a seatbelt when operating farm equipment or on a tractor with a rollover protection structure (ROPS) or cab.
- Avoid busy roadways when able to, and when not, drive during less busy times. A major concern is the speed differences between farm equipment and motor vehicles. This results in the approaching motorists only having a few seconds to identify the situation and react.
- Wear proper footwear, such as slip-resistant shoes or boots, while operating equipment to reduce the risk of falls.
- Tractor rollovers are one of the most common and dangerous causes of injury. Tractors are especially prone to rollovers due to their high center of gravity. Be cautious with steep inclines and while operating on road shoulders as they can be soft and cause an upset.
- Never carry extra passengers.
Case Studies
Trapped Under Machine
A person was operating a tractor around a steep embankment and rolled down the incline, getting trapped underneath the machine. Police and fire personnel arrived at the scene to remove the tractor and perform lifesaving methods. The victim was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. — May 2022
Mowing Caution
An older male was mowing his property when he fell off the tractor for an unknown reason, getting his right leg ran over by the mower blades. He was taken to the hospital and succumbed to his injuries several days later. — June 2022
Highway Danger
A man operating a tractor on a U.S. highway was struck by a semitrailer truck while traveling in the same direction. The tractor was pushed off the road and rolled over into the ditch, ejecting the operator. The farm tractor operator was pronounced dead at the scene. — June 2022
Awareness on the Road
A collision occurred between a grain truck and a sedan, causing the truck to overturn. Both occupants of the grain truck, a male and female, were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead. The driver of the sedan sustained serious injuries and a passenger was declared dead at the scene. — September 2022
Morning Mishap
An older male was driving an antique tractor with a hay wagon with a young passenger on a roadway in the morning and was rear-ended by a pickup truck. Both the driver and passenger of the tractor were ejected with serious injuries. — October 2022
Resources
- The Ohio State University, Agricultural Safety and Health Program
- University of Minnesota Extension, Farm Safety
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Worker Safety on the Farm, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2010-137 (April 2010)
Award Number: 2022-41590-38130