Employer Safety

• Provide job description for employees
• Implement a personalized “Safety Program”
• Maintain Employee files
• Attend State/USCHI Safety meetings
• Familiarize employees with location and use of fire extinguishers, 1st aid kits, and important numbers and address of various facilities
• Provide employees with operators manuals, and safety video/tests for viewing

Employee Safety

• Study all materials provided by employer
• Take responsibility for personal safety including sun, eye, skin, and breathing protection, as well as use of extinguishers. This includes tobacco and alcohol use restrictions set by employer
• Acknowledge employer safety guidelines in writing

Pre-Harvest Procedures

• Compile/utilize company policy/procedures
• Keep written records and journal of activity
• Review and practice loading, unloading, servicing, transportation (including speed) and communication procedures
• Install appropriate safety items in each vehicle including a disposable camera

Loading/Unloading

• ASSUME NOTHING!
• Follow established procedure including hand signals. Delegate specific responsibilities per individual
• Secure chains, tie-downs, and flags and check all lights and signals
• SMV signal should be covered for travel and flags placed properly on equipment
• Double-check all securing mechanisms
• When unloading find a safe, level area
• Be aware of climate and surroundings
• Always set truck and trailer brakes. Use block(s) behind one of the wheels during unloading and parking of trailers

Moving

• Perform/document a complete Pre-Trip inspection on all equipment
• Complete “writing” duties. Example; log book
• Follow established speed, convoy spacing and communication procedures
• Perform ‘walk-around’ checks during breaks in travel
• Be aware of road weather conditions during travel. Acknowledge all appearances of road shoulders, and bridges, including width and on coming traffic. Practice defensive driving at times.
• Know the turning radius of the vehicle your operating, as well as the height, width and weight
• Keep adequate water and food available to prevent fatigue from becoming a problem

Field Operations

• Familiarize yourself with operators manual
• Perform established service procedures on equipment including oil levels, belts, chains, pressure, fire/water extinguishers etc.
• Maintain clean cab, windows and mirrors
• Obey any and all “rider” specifications
• Be aware of personal protection including eyes and skin as well as fatigue and safety precautions
• Maintain consistent rules for relief operators

Road/Field Travel

• Utilize communication procedures
• Establish ‘expected’ distance between equipment
• Use signals and appropriate speed
• Acknowledge pedestrians, bridge traffic, soft shoulders and weight and speed limits
• Know turning radius

Combine Operations

• Maintain journal of daily operations
• Keep volume of communications appropriate. In conjunction with music
• Review and communicate procedures for special field instructions including terraces, mud, protruding objects to be cut around, and running with more than one machine (including grain cart)
• Use header stop when servicing, repairing or checking head operations

Tractor and Grain Cart

• Maintain instructed service procedure
• Establish and follow procedures for loading, unloading, and transporting grain
• Know proper RPM settings for loading trucks and unloading carts
• Engage PTO with the hopper gates closed
• Be aware of visibility limitations due to size

Hay and Forage

• Maintain routine servicing procedures. An example being to clean the radiator daily
• Be aware of the sharpness of units on equipment and their speed. Act and dress appropriately
• Trucking, loading, unloading, and transporting procedures vary in this industry. Maintain employer specifications.

Truck and Trailer

• Daily record keeping and load tracking important
• Familiarize yourself with various procedures including but not limited to loading, unloading, different elevator and expectations/procedures, tarping, weights and measures, parking, and signals. Be courteous
• Always check hitching mechanisms, brakes, and trap doors prior to loading and travel
• Keep cab, windows, mirrors and dash clean and free of debris
• Follow common sense road rules. Example being that the loaded truck has the right of way
• Follow posted engine brake’ rules.

Camper/Trailers

• Develop and follow a procedure in setting up and taking down (or readying for travel) the camper(s)
• After connecting and disconnecting the sewer equipment wash your hands
• Maintain safe speeds when traveling through camp grounds and be aware of the specific rules and regulation of the facility

Hotel

• Follow management regulations
• Be considerate of others staying in the facility, due to hours harvest crews keep
• Do not damage property

Personal Safety/Behavior

• Make others aware of any personal prescription drugs being used or needed
• Be aware of duties for washing clothes, cleaning hours, food preparation and consumption
• Be aware of rules on use of telephone, landlines or cellular models.

Basic Simple Safety Tips

• Drive as though you cannot back up
• Drive using gears instead of brakes
• Have water available for consumption all day
• Communicate – Communicate – Communicate
• Stay below the speed limit instead of slightly above it
• Clean windows, mirrors, and cabs, which PREVENTS accidents
• Protect our eyes, skin and ears
• Get enough Rest – Fatigue is Dangerous

Think safety – Talk Safety – Act safely!!!