Fall harvest safety tips
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EmailSome common sense tips can help prevent injuries on the farm during harvest season.
During the fall harvest season, countless hours will be spent in combines, tractors, trucks and other equipment by farmers and workers who will be transporting large equipment on our roads and highways. It is always a good suggestion to go over safety considerations with all workers to teach or reinforce the importance of safety on the farm. This is also particularly true for new or inexperienced workers.
Agriculture ranks among the nation’s most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, and farming is one of the few industries in which family members, who often share the work and live on the premises, are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Agricultural Injury Survey, an estimated 893,000 youth under 20 years of age resided on farms in 2014, with about 453,977 youth performing farm work.
The Michigan State University Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that there were 1,003 non-fatal work-related farm injuries in Michigan in 2022 and 2023, and an additional 24 work-related deaths that occurred on a farm.
Tractor-related incidents were the leading cause of work-related injuries resulting in death for these farmers and farm workers. For non-fatal injuries to farmers and farm workers, between 2015 and 2021, 483 non-tractor machines caused injuries (such as harvesting machines, skid steers and conveyor belts) and 381 tractor-related injuries were treated in Michigan hospitals and emergency departments. From 2022-2023, these numbers were 58 and 77, respectively.
Here are a few safety tips from Michigan State University Extension to consider on your farm as producers prepare for the harvest season:
- There should be an emergency plan in place for all farms.
- Read (or re-review) the operators manual(s).
- Train all operators to safely operate the equipment.
- Install Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs.
- Wear seat belts.
- Have all safety equipment in proper condition and ready to use, including safety glasses, hearing protection, high visibility clothing and respiratory masks/respirators.
- Have ROPS (rollover protective structures) fitted on tractors.
- Keep all guards and shields in place. Check to make sure they are in working order.
- Put equipment in neutral or park, engage parking brake and turn off engine before dismounting. Wait until all mechanisms have stopped moving before attempting to service or unclog a machine.
- Locking hydraulic cylinders or supporting the head prior to working under it is always recommended.
- Limit riders on equipment! Instructional seats are designed for training or diagnosing machine problems.
- Take breaks. Get enough sleep.
- Fatigue, stress, medication, alcohol and drugs can decrease focus and lead to an injury.
- Substance use should also be avoided while farming.
More information
- Farmers and motorists can work together to prevent traffic collisions involving farm equipment – Michigan State University Extension
- Only you can prevent combine fires – Michigan State University Extension
- Prevent injuries and deaths from grain-related incidents – Penn State Extension
For more information, contact Michigan State University Extension’s Samantha Wolfe at wolfesa4@msu.edu or 231-882-0025.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] and the AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities [grant no. 2022-41590-38121] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
