Safety Tips For Tractor Operations

Tractors are the backbone of modern mechanized agriculture. As one of the most commonly used pieces of farm equipment, promoting tractor safety means promoting overall farm safety. That is why White Spruce Trailer Sales has created this list of tractor safety tips. 

Know Your Model

While we can give you general safety information applicable to most tractors, it is also important that you understand your specific model. Read your owner’s manual carefully, and heed any warning signs on the vehicle itself. 

Dress Right

Loose-fitting clothing can easily get caught in the moving parts of a tractor, so avoid wearing anything that might put you at risk. Tractor operators should wear solid work boots, as well as any necessary safety equipment like work gloves and safety glasses. 

Starting Safely

If your tractor’s manual transmission is in gear when you start the engine, it will start to move even if there is no one steering, so never start your tractor if you are not in the cab. Always mount and dismount your tractor carefully, and only take as many passengers as you have seatbelts.

Avoid Rearward Rollovers

A rearward rollover is when your tractor’s rear wheels don’t rotate enough to move the vehicle forward and it tips backward. You can reduce the chances of rollover by not working on slopes, taking hills backwards, properly stabilizing your tractor, using tire chains or boards to improve traction, and always accelerating smoothly. Following this advice can also help you avoid a sideways rollover, in which your tractor tips on its side. You can also install a roll-over protection structure (ROPS) to keep the operator safe in case of a rollover. 

Roadway Rules

Tractors are slower than commuter vehicles, so you should minimize time spent on the road and avoid traffic when possible. Make sure that your tractor has a slow-moving vehicle emblem, turn signals, reflective tape, and lights, and always broadcast your intentions with the appropriate signals. Pull over for other motorists when feasible.

General Safety Tips

Tractor operators should perform a safety inspection before each use. When starting the tractor, the operator should make sure that they are in an open or well-ventilated space and that no humans or animals are in the way before they start moving. Never leave a tractor running unattended, be aware of any potential hazards, and keep your cab clean. 

To get more information or to view our selection of tractor models, visit White Spruce Trailer Sales in Anchorage, North Pole, and Wasilla, Alaska. We also offer rentals, parts, servicing, and financing, so visit us for all your tractor needs. We are proud to serve the state of Alaska, and we hope to see you soon!