Countless industries rely on tractors’ versatility and power; yet, operating them can be risky. To ensure your safe heavy equipment use, read these tractor safety tips by USA synthetics in Oklahoma City.

What do you think of when hearing about tractors? You might picture an excavator digging out foundations at construction sites or farm tractors plowing the land; you can even imagine a large yellow tractor used as a disaster relief vehicle after a flood. This goes to show that tractors are incredibly versatile and helpful heavy-duty machines; therefore, they must be operated responsibly. Although there’s a wide variety of tractor brands, sizes, and types, they are all heavy machines that entail the risk of overturning. If your goal is becoming a tractor operator, you must follow essential guidelines to ensure safe use; to that end, this post by USA Synthetics in Oklahoma City has listed five tractor safety tips. If you are interested in this topic, continue reading.

Keep up with your tractor’s preventive maintenance by using high-quality products for its hydraulic system, like AMSOIL’s Synthetic Anti-Wear Hydraulic Oil - ISO 32. Call USA Synthetics at (405) 388-6170 or visit AMSOIL’s online store to place an order on the top-performing synthetic oil in Oklahoma City.

Essential Tractor Safety Tips You Should Know

Know Your Equipment

First, it’s important to note that operating a tractor can be more complicated without carefully reading the operator’s manual. This handbook gathers all the information you need to know to keep your equipment at top-notch, from troubleshooting and storage instructions to technical specifications; yet, when it comes to safety, the table of contents should include these contents (make sure to read them thoroughly):

• Safety: Since your operator’s manual is your main source of safety information, refer to it and look for its content regarding warnings, cautions, and dangers; after all, these labels are important for showing you the equipment’s operational limitations. Additionally, look for information about the safety procedures you must follow if a hazard arises.
• Operative controls: Whether you intend to operate your tractor at a farm, a construction site, or a factory, you should learn how to make the best use of each knob, lever, and pedal. Considering that, the operator’s manual comes in handy with detailed information you should read about all the equipment’s controls.
• Maintenance and servicing: Many tractor-related injuries and accidents happen due to engine failure; to avoid those chances, follow the maintenance and servicing requirements described in your tractor’s manual.

Get Tractor Training

To get your knowledge into practice, you should get supervised training. By working with an experienced instructor, you’ll learn how to attach implements safely, how to turn, how to operate your equipment through a slope, the safest speed to drive, among other valuable practical skills.

Use ROPS

Another critical thing to do is check your tractor’s safety features. If your tractor was built in recent decades, it likely has a roll bar or cage structure made of steel around the operator’s seat. This feature is called ROPS (rollover protective structure) and is designed to create a safe zone around the operator in case of a rollover. Now, it’s worth mentioning that ROPS works when the operator is wearing its seat belt; hence, if you were to overturn, the roll bar would shield you as long as the seatbelt keeps you on your seat.

In addition to learning key tractor safety tips, find out how to keep your equipment well-maintained by calling the experts at USA Synthetics at (405) 388-6170. To place an order on the most effective synthetic oil in Oklahoma City, browse AMSOIL’s online store.

Wear Protective Clothes

Something as simple as choosing the right clothes helps increase your safety when operating heavy-duty equipment. That being said, here are some clothing pieces to consider:

• Snug-fitting clothes: Never operate a tractor using scarfs, flare pants, untied bootlaces, or any other type of loose clothing; instead, make sure to wear snug-fitting clothing. The reason for this is that tractors typically have exposed moving mechanisms such as pulleys, rotating cutter heads, drive belts, among other moving parts on which loose clothing can get caught.
• Hat or cap: Make sure always to wear a hat or a cap whenever you operate your tractor outdoors. Doing so will protect your face from sunburns and your eyes from light sensitivity.
• Boots: Ankles are prone to injury in case you fall or slip from the tractor while climbing its steps; for this reason, make sure to protect your ankles by wearing sturdy boots with non-slip rubber soles and ankle support.
• Leather gloves: You can use gloves for winter to keep your hands warm and protected. Additionally, gloves help enhance your grip, which means your handling of the operative controls gets easier and more comfortable.

Inspect The Working Area

Lastly, it’s important to note that you should never operate a tractor in unknown conditions; contrariwise, you must thoroughly inspect the area you intend to work over to assess all the hazards. During each terrain inspection, look out for hidden ditches, ruts, large rocks, stumps, or any other dangerous obstruction; remove it all if possible; or place a warning sign to be cautious around immovable hazards.

Keep your tractor strong and efficient by using the highest-quality protection for its hydraulic system; to that end, choose products like AMSOIL’s Synthetic Anti-Wear Hydraulic Oil - ISO 32. Call USA Synthetics at (405) 388-6170 or visit AMSOIL’s online store to place an order on the top-performing synthetic oil in Oklahoma City.