Fueling the Tractor
Always refuel the tractor outside. Store your fuel outside away from any building. Keep the area free of weeds or any other combustible material. Tractors should have at least a 5-pound extinguisher on board, as well as a first aid kit. Static electricity, a spark from the ignition system or a hot exhaust could cause the fuel to ignite. Grounding out the tractor with a ground wire or by dropping mounted equipment so it touches the ground can reduce static electricity. Use caution when refueling tractors. There is always a risk of fire and explosion. Fill the gas tank when the engine is cold to avoid the risk of a fire and/or explosion.
Vehicle fires sometimes occur while people are filling metal or plastic gas cans placed on plastic surfaces. When pouring gasoline into a can, this charge can build up on the can. If the can is sitting on concrete or on the ground, the static charge can safely flow away. But when the can is sitting on plastic, such as the plastic bed liner in a truck, the static charge cannot escape. A spark can occur between the can and the fuel nozzle and ignite the gasoline.
Fueling Hazards
Use only gas cans approved by CSA/ULC and follow these precautions.
- Never fill any container while it is inside the vehicle. Always place the container to be filled on the ground and away from other people and traffic.
- Keep the nozzle in contact with the can while filling.
- Do not smoke.
- While transporting containers, keep them secure.
Power Take-Off (PTO)
Death or injury can result from becoming entangled with a PTO. In order to prevent injury or death, proper shielding must be in place. Replace damaged or missing shields immediately. Using caution when working with PTO equipment:
- Disengaging the PTO before getting off a tractor reduces the chance of slipping or falling onto a rotating shaft or getting caught in a moving part.
- Rolling shields should move freely. When the power is off, the shield should easily rotate by hand. Repair damaged shields or bearings immediately.
- Keep the tractor PTO master shield in place.
Shielding and Guarding
Stay clear of unshielded moving parts. Unshielded moving parts, such as snapping or husking rolls, straw spreader and choppers, cutter bars, discs, and feed rolls, cannot be shielded to protect you and still operate correctly. For this reason, it is important that you concentrate on your work and watch your movements and clothing around machinery. Do not allow other people to go near unshielded moving parts, except when the machine is locked out and the person is qualified to make adjustments or repairs.
Leave the guards on the machine. If it is necessary for you to remove a safety guard, first get permission from your supervisor and make sure the machine is locked out. And before operating the machine, replace the guards immediately when the adjustments or repair is completed.
A lockout procedure simply means to put a lock on the part of the machine that controls the power to prevent it from being turned back on. If the machine you are working with jams or gets caught up on something, turn off the power and lock it in the “off ” position. You must do this FIRST before you attempt to make any adjustments. Your employer’s lockout procedure is to be followed immediately when you discover the machine to be malfunctioning. And NEVER leave a machine running unattended. Never attempt to repair the machine yourself.
