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Published: September 06, 2007 11:02 am
Farm Safety: a burning issue
Originally published in the August 24, 2007, print edition.
By Dick Hagen
The Land Staff Writer
It’s a perfect day to wrap up a full week of a busy harvest. There’s not a cloud in the sky. The crop is dry.
The harvest has been hectic, like any other, but fortunately no breakdowns or any real problems. Your combine hasn’t missed a beat. You’re congratulating yourself because you may even finish your harvest ahead of your neighbors.
But midway through the morning, you smell smoke. You feel your stomach sink. That feeling of exhilaration turns to fear as you realize your combine is on fire. You jump out of the combine wishing you were closer to your cell phone and fire extinguisher in the cab of your pickup.
You turn back to see bright orange flames and smoke starting to pour out of the bottom of the combine’s engine compartment.
You frantically attempt to open the engine hood and at least throw some dirt on the engine. You burn your hands on the red-hot hood latch and resign yourself to backing off and watching your $250,000 combine go up in flames.
Sound far fetched? “Not really,” said John Shutske, a safety and health specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension. “Combine and tractor fires still cost millions of dollars each year; even more because of lost time and downed crops during the busy harvest season. Fires also cause dozens of injuries each year, and occasionally a person is killed because of a farm machinery fire.”
Shutske said there are two keys to avoiding such disasters: 1) Prevention of fire in the first place; and 2) Preparation in case a fire does break out.
For a fire to occur, three things must be present: air, a material to burn and a heat source. You can’t eliminate air around machinery, but you can focus on keeping your combine free of fire-causing materials, and eliminate possible sources of heat that could lead to a fire.
Keep your combine clean
Research reveals that over 75 percent of machinery fires start in the engine compartment area. So before the start of harvest use a pressure washer to remove all caked-on grease, oil and crop residue. Besides greatly reducing the chance of fire, a clean engine also runs cooler and more efficiently.
Once harvest is under way, make sure you frequently blow any dry chaff, leaves and other crop material off the machine. That includes any plant material wrapped on bearings, belts and other moving parts. Your best tool here is compressed air.
Eliminate heat sources
As you do routine maintenance check closely for any leaks on fuel or oil hoses, fittings or metal lines, and make repairs or replacements immediately.
This is also the time to scan any exposed electrical wiring for damage or signs of deterioration. If you are blowing fuses, or have a circuit that intermittently cuts out, it’s a good sign that there’s a short or loose connection. Any arcing electrical wire generates extremely high temperatures so check closely your combine’s total electrical system.
Perhaps not surprising is the fact that exhaust system surfaces that contact flammable materials are the most common source of both combine and tractor fires. So make sure your exhaust system, including manifold, muffler and turbo charger, are kept free of debris.
Be prepared for the worst
Despite your best intentions, machinery fires can still occur. One important piece of equipment, however, gives you the opportunity to fight back. That special weapon is a fully charged, 10-pound ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher. For your tractor Shutske said you can get by with a five-pound unit. Select only extinguishers with an Underwriter’s Laboratory approval. Having two extinguishers on the machine is better in case one malfunctions or loses pressure.
Shutske strongly recommends one extinguisher in the cab, and one that can be easily reached from the ground. Check your extinguishers periodically, paying special attention to the pressure gauge. If the pressure is too low, your unit won’t expel the powder inside. The best people to check your fire extinguishers are either someone from your local fire department or your local insurance agent.
Any extinguisher that has been even partially discharged must be fully recharged before using again. During even a brief discharge, the tiny dry chemical particles will create a small gap in the internal seal of the extinguisher valve. This tiny opening will cause any remaining pressure to leak out in a few hours or days.
What if I have a fire?
If a fire breaks out, quickly shut off the engine, grab your extinguisher, get out of the cab, and get help. If you forget the extinguisher, don’t go back in after it unless the fire is small or confined to an area well away from the cab. Also get on your cell phone or two-way radio to your local police department or fire department. Stay calm and give accurate directions to your field.
Approach any fire with extreme caution. Even a small fire can flare up dramatically if you open doors, hatches or other areas. If liquid fuels are involved, you have an even more dangerous situation. Use the extinguisher’s flexible hose to shoot the chemical from a safe distance at the base of any flames you see. Blanket flames to allow the fire to cool and prevent a reflash.
Sometimes you don’t win
It may not be possible to put out every fire. If the fire is in a difficult-to-reach area, or seems out of control, don’t risk the chance of injury or death — wait for help to arrive.
Before resuming operation after any fire, be sure to find and correct the cause. The best procedure is to have your machine looked at by a qualified equipment mechanic who can also help prevent future fires by locating parts that need replacement and inspecting areas that might be future fire hazards.
“I’ve been working in farm safety for 25 years now,” Shutske said. “Certain things don’t change. Farming is still the most dangerous occupation in terms of work-related injuries and deaths.”
For more information, visit www.safe-design.net/machinery fires or e-mail shutske@umn.edu.
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‘Ryan Express’ makes pitch for farm safety
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s safety program is getting some special assistance this year.
Nolan Ryan, Hall of Fame pitcher and cattle rancher, is urging farm and ranch families to take time to review safety practices, as part of Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Safety Awareness Program.
“Safety is a big part of preparing my ranch for the busy times ahead, and preventing injuries is a good way to have a truly successful season,” Ryan said. “Making sure all safety features are up-to-date, in place and in good condition is one place to start. Another is establishing a plan for emergency situations and reviewing it with your family and employees.”
The Farm Bureau Safety and Health Network, along with Ryan, chose “Step Up to the Plate for Farm Safety” as the theme for this year’s program.
Parents and grandparents can keep safety in the family for generations to come by coaching children on safety practices such as following a “no extra-riders” policy for tractors and equipment, wearing personal protective gear and being alert around animals.
“Agriculture has a rich tradition of involving all members of the family in the operation,” Ryan said, “and what better way to keep them involved than through safety.”
Ryan’s major league career spanned 27 years, as he pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. His 5,714 career strikeouts top the all-time list. Known as the “Ryan Express” for his 100-plus mph fastball, he retired from baseball in 1993. Ryan has been raising cattle since age 10.
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Fire damage, by the numbers
• 78.2 percent of combine fires occur between noon and 8 p.m.; 48.5 percent occur between 2 and 6 p.m.
• 47.2 percent of combine fires ignited due to mechanical or electrical failure
• 76.7 percent of combine fires originate in the engine area
• 41.3 percent of combine fires have organic material as the flammable material first involved in the fire
• The majority of combine fires occur the last three days of the week; the fewest occur on Sunday
• From 1984 to 1997, $94,748,050 in estimated losses from combine fires were reported, with an average loss of $15,182 per combine
From data reported at the 2002 ASAE Annual International Meeting by M.T. Venem, graduate student at the University of Minnesota Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, and J. M. Shutske, U of M Associate Professor and Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist. The figures are from a study of 8,927 combine fires.
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