Tractor Safety in India: Essential Features, Tips and How to Prevent Accidents
Table of Contents
- Why are Safety Features important in Tractors?
- Safety Features in Tractors
- Tractor’s Safety Tips and Guidelines
- What Initiatives Should the Government Take for Ensuring the Safety of Farmers?
Why are Safety Features important in Tractors?
The agricultural fatality rate was 16 / 100,000 workers per year in Turkey according to “Analysis of Agricultural Accidents in Turkey” (2008). Whereas, according to some research reports the U.S agricultural fatality rate is 25.4 / 100,000 workers per year. The power availability per ha in these countries is about 13.0 kW whereas in India it is 1.5 kW because the agriculture in western countries is more mechanized. However, to double the food grain production the power availability in India will have to be increased to 3.5 kW. Therefore, doing it without proper attention can lead to increased fatality rate in Indian agriculture causing a great loss to our society.
When it comes to India, we do not have much of the recent data because only a few studies have been conducted till now regarding the farming accidents. However, according to the agricultural accident data collected by CIAE in 2007 it is noted that 30.5% of agricultural accidents occurred due to farm machines. The 5.6 % accidents were fatal and 94.4% accidents were non-fatal out of the total 698 accidents. Most importantly 31% of accidents were due to tractors and tractor operated implements. Therefore, the enhancement of safety features in tractors become highly important.
Safety Features in Tractors
Let’s look at some of the safety features introduced with time in tractors in India:
Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS)
The ROPS basically refers to the operator’s compartment structure which can be a cab or a framework which protects the driver from injuries that can be caused due to rollovers. However, all the cabs are not necessarily ROPS, refer to your tractor’s manual for confirmation. The seat belts are also an additional part of ROPS which are supposed to be used by the operator mandatorily in ROPS tractors. It is proven to be 95% effective in preventing death or serious injuries. The ROPS was quite uncommon in tractors a few years ago but now most of the new tractors come equipped with ROPS for safety. However, this feature is a bit expensive to afford due to which some of the farmers do not opt for this in India.
Neutral Safety Switch
The primary function of the neutral safety switch in a tractor is to act as an interlock between the ignition system and the transmission system. The neutral safety switch ensures that the tractor can only start when transmission is neutral. This prevents the tractor from suddenly moving ahead if the transmission is in gear which provides an extra layer of safety to the operator during the starting process. However, this feature in tractors is mostly offered by popular brands like John Deere, New Holland, Mahindra, New Holland, etc.
PTO Shaft Safety Shield
The PTO shaft transmits the mechanical power from the tractor to an implement. Therefore, it has the potential to damage anything that comes in contact with it while functioning. To prevent any accidents, a PTO shaft safety shield is used to cover the rotating shaft which keeps body parts or any clothing from catching in them. However, this feature is usually not company fitted in Indian tractors and the operators have to get it by themselves which is a safety drawback.
Transport Lock
The transport lock is a safety feature which basically lets you lock the attached implement in the raised position. It is mandatory to lock your implement especially while moving from one location to the other because it prevents abrupt falling of the implement which can cause accidents. It also helps you to reduce the implement drop rate which prevents any wear and tear on your hydraulic pump.
Heat Guards
Heat guards, also known as heat shields, serve the purpose of protecting the operator from engine heat generated by the tractor. The heat guards allow the operator to comfortably work for longer hours.
Canopy
The Canopy is designed to protect the operator as well as the tractor from different environmental conditions. The farmers can comfortably work without getting drenched in rain and are also protected from the sun's strong heat. It is especially useful in protecting TREM IV tractors as they are technically complex and require more care.
Silencer Heat Shield
The silencer heat shield, as the name suggests, is a shield around the silencer. The silencer due to the engine heat gets extremely hot and can burn anyone’s skin if touched accidentally. Therefore, the purpose of this shield is to absorb, reflect, or dissipate the heat of the tractor. It is provided to protect the operator or anyone from thermal burns.
Differential Lock
A differential lock is a device used to join the tractor's both half axles so that if one tractor tyre is under less resistance, the tractor will come out from the mud because it allows both wheels to move at the same speed and apply the same traction. The differential lock helps you to extricate your tractor when stuck in the mud or any other situation without anyone’s help.
Tractor’s Safety Tips and Guidelines
The tractor is designed and built by keeping the operator’s safety in mind. However, the tractor’s safer operation is completely in your hands. Let’s discuss some of the safety tips and guidelines one should keep in mind while operating a tractor:
- Never start or refuel your tractor’s engine in a closed shed or garage. Always shut down the tractor while adding fuel or fluids because a spark from the ignition system can lead the fuel ignition.
- It is important to familiarize yourself with the farm before operating your tractor. Walk the entire farm to understand which areas are sloppy or risky and require caution.
- Do not operate your tractor at excessive speeds particularly while turning because a higher center of gravity allows a side overturn to appear more quickly.
- Make sure the PTO shield is placed correctly and is not damaged from anywhere before operating the tractor. Most importantly, avoid getting closer to the rotating PTO shaft and do not wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Only sit on the allocated seat of the tractor and not on any other parts of it as even a small bump can cause the rider to fall on the ground and run over.
- It is important to stop your tractor safely. Ensure the transmission is in neutral with the parking brake engaged then fully engage the brakes. Deactivate the attachments and lower to the ground. Finally, stop the engine and then remove the key.
- Do not listen to music on big music systems specially during haulage or while driving on the roads as it can be dangerous.
- Never exceed the towing capacity of your tractor by towing too much as it can make the tractor lose its stability and lead to accidents.
What Initiatives Should the Government Take for Ensuring the Safety of Farmers?
The tractor industry and implements are developing at a fast pace. However, due to the less technical support, farmers are not really aware about the advancement in the functioning of the tractors and other agricultural implements. Therefore, training sessions should be organized for tractor operators at block level for teaching them about the safe tractor operation.
Additionally, on the legislative level, a provision of ROPS should be made by the government of India to reduce the deaths caused due to overturning of tractors. Also, turning indicators, rear lights, and a SMV emblem on tractor trailers should be made mandatory. Furthermore, the BIS standards on threshers, chaff cutters and sugarcane crushers, etc., should be revised from time to time according to the new developments for taking necessary safety measures to prevent accidents due to these machines.
Since agriculture is a state subject in India, both central and state governments are required to work closely to implement these initiatives and introduce new programmes for a safer future for farmers.
If you want to know more about tractor safety features, you can check the specifications of new tractors on Tractorkarvan. Moreover, you can also watch tractor videos on our portal to get a clear understanding of tractor safety features and other specifications.
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