Fall tillage operations can present a range of hazards for equipment operators, notes an agricultural safety specialist at North Dakota State University. "Perhaps surprisingly, most tillage-related injuries occur in the farm yard," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "Hitching and unhitching, changing cultivator shovels and performing other tillage tool maintenance are all opportunities for injury. Sprains, strains and cuts to fingers, feet, ankles and legs are the most common injuries."

He urges operators to be alert to potential dangers and take steps to protect themselves.

The process of hitching and unhitching equipment is responsible for injuring many fingers, toes and backs, he notes. "Give some thought as to where to park equipment before unhitching it. It is safer to hitch up equipment on relatively flat, level ground. Jacks won't be as likely to slip and neither will blocking. Avoid uneven areas for machinery storage because equipment may move after being released from the tractor. Hitching up the next time can also be hazardous."

When hitching, align the tractor and machinery in a straight line to limit problems. Machinery with integral hitches, such as three-point, are much easier and safer to attach on level ground.

"A person who is helping to hitch up equipment should always stand to the side of the equipment, never between the tractor and machinery. It is simply much too easy for a foot to slip from a clutch or brake pedal," Maher says. "The helper should step between only when the machinery is lined up correctly and the tractor is either in park or a forward gear. Use locking hitch pins to prevent accidents."

After the hitching is complete and the helper is out of the way, check the operation of the hydraulic controls. It is easier to correct the connections on level ground than out in the field. Also, if you know it's wrong in the farmyard you are more likely to correct it than you will be once you are in the field, Maher notes.

Don't trust the hydraulic system to protect you when working on any equipment. Block up the machinery securely if your safety relies on the hydraulic system. Remember to use the transport brackets for cultivator wings while on the road. Block up machinery before pulling the hitch pin. Letting the implement drawbar fall to the ground as you pull away with the tractor will make the next hitching more difficult and dangerous. Use wood or metal blocking since concrete crushes easily and unpredictably.

Jacks and blocking also take pressure off the hydraulic system, making it easier and safer to disconnect couplings. On most machinery it makes a big difference if you have the hydraulic connections mixed or interchanged. Color code all of your tractor and machinery hydraulic connections to prevent this problem. Red and green or yellow and blue are usable color combinations.

"Skinned knuckles, cuts, bruises and sprains are not a necessary part of changing cultivator shovels and other tillage parts," Maher notes. "Giving all nuts and bolts a shot of penetrating oil after clearing the soil from them is a good first step. It is usually safer to pull on a wrench than it is to push on it. Take a second to see where your elbow or knuckles will hit when you pull or push on a wrench. Is it a safe spot, or will you be hurt? Less time is used in making these safety checks than is lost in going to town for medical attention to an injury."

There are many opportunities for serious accidents to occur when tillage equipment is on the road. An SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) sign that is clearly visible from the rear is vital. Do not try moving large machinery after dark. Use clearance lights while on the road in poor visibility conditions such as early dusk. Keep road speeds down so that you can maintain control of the machinery and decrease its wear and tear. Stay alert to other traffic and carefully allow it to pass when it is safe for all concerned. Be careful in moving to the side of the road so that you don't go too far.

"Once in the field, the opportunities for injury decline. Turning the equipment at the end of the fields can be dangerous. Don't snag the equipment on the tractor's rear wheels in tight, sharp turns. Watch out for power lines and poles, trees and fences. If the tillage equipment should plug on crop residue always shut the tractor off before leaving the seat," Maher says.

"Also remember, no riders. There is only one seat on the tractor and that is all it takes to do the job," he adds.