Ten Tips for Tractor Safety

By Oscar H. Will Iii
Published on January 1, 2007
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Tractor brake pedals.
Tractor brake pedals.
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A six-splined 540-RPM rear PTO.
A six-splined 540-RPM rear PTO.
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Category 1 three-point hitch.
Category 1 three-point hitch.
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Heavy-duty live front axle on a four wheel-drive tractor.
Heavy-duty live front axle on a four wheel-drive tractor.

Take these ten tips for tractor safety to heart when operating a tractor. 

Tractors are inherently dangerous, and accidents involving tractors have claimed thousands of lives and caused many more injuries over the years. These ten tips for tractor safety will help you avoid injuries and tractor accidents. Read and understand all the safety information in the manuals that accompany your tractor before you attempt to operate it. If you are unsure about a particular machine’s operation, there is no pride lost in asking for help — the answers you receive might save your life, or that of a loved one.

  1. Maintain your tractor so that brakes, hydraulic systems, power take-off, tire pressures and such are properly adjusted and in good working order.
  2. If equipped with a Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) never operate the tractor without your seatbelt fastened, unless it is a folding ROPS and you have it folded down for clearance (this should be avoided).
  3. Tractors have a high center of gravity and are much less stable than your car or truck. Exercise extreme caution when operating on slopes and when making turns, especially if the tractor is equipped with heavy implements on the 3-point hitch or a front-end loader. The higher you have the loader or implement raised, the higher the tractor’s center of gravity and the more likely it will be to tip. High-speed turns should always be avoided.
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