Many farmers use augers to collect and move grain. Augers have a spiral screw inside an outer tube, which pushes the grain from the lower end to the top end. Augers are usually powered by electric motors. When they are in operation, augers can present serious risks to the operator and others in there path. According to the National Agricultural Safety Database, most auger accidents occur when:
- The auger comes into contact with or becomes entangled in the exposed crew at the intake;
- There is an entanglement in a belt drive;
- Someone or something is struck by an uncontrolled spinning crank;
- Something becomes entangled in a PTO drive shaft;
- The raised upper end comes into contact with overhead high power lines.
The most common auger injuries are lacerations, fractures and amputations.
A front-end loader is used to lift and move large, heavy farming objects and machinery.
The addition of a front-end loader to a tractor is the primary cause of many tractor rollovers.
Another common accident occurs when round hay bales roll down the arm of the loader onto the operator. Large hay bales can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. That is equivalent to a car falling on top of you. These front-end loader accidents frequently cause paralysis or death.
Manufacturers have an obligation to ensure front-end loaders are equipped with protection against falling objects.
Skid steer loaders are useful to haul a variety of materials that need to fit into hard-to-reach places.
Although the machine is small in size, skid steer loader accidents have been known to cause serious injury and death. This is particularly true because the controls are very unpredictable.
During a skid steer loader accident, an operator can be hit or crushed by the bucket, crushed in a rollover accident, run over, or pinned between the lift arm and the frame.
Although safety devices can prevent many of these accidents, they are often overlooked by manufacturers in order to cut costs.