Field Crops Team
HARVEST ALERT
FACT SHEET # Fall
1997
Don’t Forget The Human Factor
Howard Doss, Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State
University
Frustration, anger and disappointment may accompany this fall’s harvest but don’t let them get the best of you, your family or your employees.
The most important thing to focus on is getting through a harvest with no injuries. Achieving this begins with an assessment of the situation: first, determine the extent of crop immaturity when the frost struck; and second, see what can be done to maximize yield or what can be done to salvage as much of the crop as possible. The information contained in this packet contains guidelines for making the assessment.
The next step is to assess all machinery that will be used in the harvest, making sure that it is in good operating condition and that all safety devices, shields and guards are in place. Also make sure that personal protective equipment — protection against excessive noise, grain dusts and fines, inclement weather — is used by workers.
Also guard against build-up of mud, crop debris and clutter on equipment ladders, steps and flooring. Slips and falls account for more than 40 percent of temporary disabling farm accidents. October is generally the second highest month for agricultural accidents in Michigan.
Make a plan for the harvest, assigning certain responsibility to individuals who know how to handle the task, especially when problems arise. Make sure they will feel free to ask you questions if they are unsure how to proceed. This will help reduce risk.
Develop a plan for harvest procedures and how problems will be handled (machinery breakdowns, stuck equipment, etc.). This will help reduce the stress on everyone.
If at all possible, limit the continuous hours spent on harvest to 8 to 10 hours a day. Working longer dramatically increases the chance for an accident because of operator fatigue and subsequent loss of concentration. If everyone is under a lot of stress, operator fatigue will develop sooner.
Break up the harvest routine. Take a 10 to 15 minute rest break every 2 to 3 hours. Short breaks are more refreshing than long breaks. Accompany the rest breaks with high energy nutritious snacks and beverages (i.e., fruit, fruit juice, crackers) to maintain energy levels. Snacking on nutritious food throughout the day will also help maintain strength and prevent fatigue. This helps bolster spirits — or at least build tolerance for adversity — and reduce potential for mistakes and accidents.
When working on equipment, make sure all power is turned off. Make sure hydraulics are in the down position. If working beneath grain headers make sure they are blocked.
When not working in the field, try to talk about something other than the harvest. It is important that you, your family and workers mentally remove themselves from the stress of harvest each day as much as possible. This may be a tough harvest season but it too will pass, as did the 1992 harvest. If everyone on your crew keeps a positive focus, chances are the harvest will be a safe one.
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