Documenting incidents | Online tool allows farmers to report safety concerns, as well as model and dealership information
A farmer and his dog, both in the tractor cab, were feeding livestock one day. The farmer got out to open a gate, but first he moved the shuttle shift on the steering column into the neutral position.
While the farmer was in front of the tractor, it lurched forward and killed him.
Was this fatality due to the farmer, the dog or the easily moved shuttle shift? It could have been one or all three, but the mechanical element in particular is an example of why the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association has launched an online tool that allows farmers to express concerns about farm equipment safety and hazards.
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The incident happened in Ireland about three years ago, said CASA agricultural health and safety specialist Glen Blahey.
“Interestingly enough, within the last year or so, CASA has received a couple of concerns about shuttle shift levers not staying secure in the neutral position, and if you bump them … the tractor will lurch forward or reverse,” said Blahey.
“That has created a discussion opportunity in terms of what are the operator instructions, what does the operator’s manual say about leaving the operator’s seat while the transmission is in gear and simply relying on the shuttle shift as your security feature.”
CASA’s “speak up for safer equipment” initiative is an online form that farmers can fill out to describe equipment safety concerns.
Available on the CASA website, it went live Aug. 26.
In addition to information on the specific concern or incident, the form also requests details on the equipment, modifications, age, make, model and any actions taken by the person involved, the dealership or service personnel.
Blahey said CASA is accustomed to hearing concerns from farmers about equipment.
“Our first question is, ‘did you talk to the dealership where you bought it.’ The response, typically, is, ‘yes I did, but they said there’s nothing they can do about it,’ ” said Blahey.
CASA can use information from the online form to contact the manufacturer, if the concern involves a specific make and model, and encourage it to deal directly with the producer involved.
If the concern appears to be a general design issue among multiple manufacturers, Blahey said CASA will inform the Canadian Standards Association’s technical committee on agriculture. The CSA could then review and possibly modify standards to address the particular hazard.
“Farmers do look for a vehicle for getting their concerns addressed,” he said.
“If you see something wrong, you want someone to deal with it and the question is, ‘who’s going to deal with it?’ In terms of ag safety and health, CASA felt that we should try and assist the producers in addressing those concerns.”
Blahey said CASA might have more sway than individual farmers in some cases, and it has found manufacturers receptive in the past to suggestions related to safety.
In one case, a manufacturer placed a retrofitted auxiliary fuel tank close to the exhaust system, causing the plastic on the tank to soften and increase fire risk.
The manufacturer took quick action when told of the problem, he said.
“The objective is certainly not in any way to discredit or diminish the reputation of any manufacturer or any product,” Blahey said.
“We are going to be extremely diligent in terms of making sure that we don’t malign anyone and rather, try to achieve greater safe work practices.”
However, “grey market” equipment, which is imported from countries without the same safety standards as North America, could prove to be the real challenge, he added.
CASA will not handle matters already in legal process or those involving labour relations, financial transactions, lawn and garden equipment or off-road recreational vehicles.
Resolution of the concern is not guaranteed, but efforts will be made.
The “speak up for safer equipment” form can be found at http://casa-acsa.ca/speak-up-for-safer-equipment. Concerns can also be reported by phone at 877-452-2272.
