Hazardous areas on specific machines

Many agricultural machines have potentially dangerous moving parts, which can cause serious or fatal injuries. For example:

Balers – Big round

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • being pulled into the chamber at the pickup;
  • being pulled into the powered pressure rollers or other parts of the machine when attempting to rethread the baler – the twine often catching around an operator's arm or wrist;
  • being trapped by the various parts of transmission or moving machinery such as drive belts, pulleys, chains or sprockets;
  • being struck by the rear door/tailgate;
  • being entangled by an inadequately guarded power take-off shaft.

Other risks created by baling work can include:

  • being struck by moving bales ejected from the machine;
  • being struck or run over by the tractor and baler;
  • working on sloping ground.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Safe use of big round balers AIS4.

Combine Harvesters

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • being pulled into the cutting mechanism;
  • contacting the knife, reel or stripper rotor;
  • being injured by the drive mechanisms or trapped when automatic sensors operate;
  • becoming entangled with the levelling or discharge augers in the grain tank;
  • contacting the straw chopper or spreader mechanism at the rear.

Other risks created by combine harvesters can include:

  • contacting overhead electricity power lines;
  • being run over;
  • being trapped under the header or injured by the header falling from its transport trailer;
  • falling from the combine, especially during pre/post-season cleaning, maintenance or refuelling.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Safe use of combine harvesters AIS6.

Potato Harvesters

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • contra-rotating rollers, such as haulm and cleaning rollers;
  • conveyors or elevator chains;
  • drive mechanisms;
  • inadequately guarded power take-off (PTO) shafts.

Other risks created by potato harvesting work include:

  • being struck or run over by the harvester or tractors;
  • falling from access ladders or work platforms.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Safe use of potato harvesters AIS13.

Forage Harvesters

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • the exposed rotating cutter head, eg while sharpening;
  • the moving drive mechanisms;
  • being trapped or injured by the header/pick up;
  • clearing blockages from the spout/header while the machine is in motion;
  • contact with the power take-off shaft on trailed machines.

Other risks created by work with foragers include:

  • falling from height while adjusting the chute or mounting/dismounting self-propelled machines;
  • contacting overhead electricity power lines (OHPLs);
  • contact with silage additives;
  • the sharpening stone being ejected or breaking up during sharpening;
  • guards fouling the rotating cutter head;
  • noise and vibration.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Safe use of forage harvesters AIS24.

Rotary Flail Hedge Cutters

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • entanglement on inadequately guarded power take-off shafts;
  • contact with the cutter head parts, drive belts or pulleys;
  • being struck by the cutting head or machine arm as it moves.

Other risks associated with tractor-mounted hedge cutters can include:

  • being hit by material or other debris ejected by the cutters;
  • being hit by component parts ejected from the machine;
  • coming into contact with overhead electricity power lines (OHPLs);
  • the tractor overbalancing when the machine arm is extended;
  • injection of high-pressure oil from damaged hydraulic hoses or couplings;
  • being struck by the machine overbalancing when un-hitched from the tractor;
  • road traffic accidents due to collisions with other vehicles either directly or from debris on the road.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Safe use of rotary flail hedge cutters AIS21.

Agricultural Mowers

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • moving blades or flails;
  • moving drive mechanisms;
  • rotating power take-off (PTO) shafts;
  • rapidly moving blades, flails or other attachments ejected from the machine.

Other risks created by mowing work include:

  • contact with moving parts when clearing blockages;
  • being trapped or crushed while moving the mower between the work and transport positions;
  • being crushed below a raised machine while replacing blades or carrying out other maintenance work;
  • being struck or run over by the tractor and mower;
  • overturns when working on slopes or banks; and
  • being struck by objects or debris ejected from the machine.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Safe use of agricultural mowers AIS25.

Skid steer loaders

The greatest risk of injury arises when users have deliberately interfered with or removed safety devices, or removed part or all of the operator's cab in order to allow the machine to be used in buildings that have height restrictions.  Risks can include:

  • being crushed between the bucket and frame of the machine or between the lift arms and frame;
  • being struck by the lift arms when leaning out of the operator's cab;
  • entering/exiting the loader and being pinned between loader and frame;
  • death or injury from overturns;
  • being crushed between the loader and other solid objects;
  • being run over by the loader.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in Use of skid steer loaders in poultry sheds

NOTE: Modifications to the safety cab or frame are generally illegal as it will result in the machine being non-complaint with the law. The only circumstances in which it is permitted to remove part of the cab/frame are described in the above guidance relating specifically to the use of skid steer loaders in poultry sheds.  The guidance also clarifies the nature and extent of these modifications, and outlines control measures to reduce the risks.

Telescopic material handlers

Telehandlers and teleloaders should only be driven by authorised, trained and competent people who have completed appropriate training and testing (see HSE Approved Code of Practice L117).

Hazards associated with machine operation can include:

  • overturning – during travel or when lifting, on slopes or flat ground;
  • electrocution – from contact with OHPLs;
  • unsecured loads falling from height, eg bales;
  • using inappropriate, or poorly maintained handling attachments;
  • unsafe procedures, eg using a grain bucket to push in fence posts;
  • people falling from height, eg when using attachments as work platforms;
  • attachments not secured properly or becoming detached in use
  • unintended movement of the machine.

Information on managing and controlling these risks can be found in the telehandlers guidance page.

Forage/feeder wagons

The greatest risk of injury comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • contact with the rotating paddles/ chopping mechanism inside the mixing chamber;
  • contact with the distribution mechanism/discharge conveyor;
  • being trapped by the various parts of transmission or moving machinery such as drive belts, pulleys, chains or sprockets;
  • being entangled by an inadequately guarded power take-off shaft.

Other risks created by work with these machines can include:

  • being struck, crushed or run over by the tractor and/or machine when manoeuvring;
  • falls from the inspection ladder.

Take action to manage and control these risks.  For example:

  • always perform 'safe stop' before intervening with the machine
  • always read and follow the instructions set out in the operator's manual
  • do not climb into the mixing chamber with the machine running
  • make sure all guards are in place before starting work
  • keep people away when manoeuvring the machine, especially in and around buildings
  • do not ride on the inspection ladder, or climb on it when the machine is being loaded

Rotary cultivators (power harrows)

These machines may be used on their own, or in combination with other equipment such as seed drills.  The greatest risk comes from contact with the machine's moving parts including:

  • being caught and pulled in by the rotating tines
  • being entangled by an inadequately guarded power take-off shaft
  • being crushed under the machine when performing maintenance tasks

Take action to control and manage these risks.  For example:

  • ensure that the area between the rear clod roller/flexi-coil and the frame is guarded to prevent access to the rotating tines.
  • ensure that all stand-off rails and bars or similar guards are fitted at the front and sides to prevent contact with the tines
  • when fitting additional equipment to modify the function of the machine, ensure that it does not reduce the level of protection provided.
  • perform "safe stop" before attempting to deal with a blockage, or any other problem.
  • never climb on the frame, or try to kick out clods or stones, with the machine running
  • always read and follow the instructions set out in the operator's manual
  • provide adequate means of support if required to work beneath the machine
    eg for changing tines do not rely on tractor hydraulics alone

Is this page useful?

2022-02-09