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Tractor Operation & SafetyEmergency Stop Procedures
In an emergency there is no time to read the manual. Know the stop sequence before you need it, and make sure everyone who runs your machines knows it too.
Key points
- Learn the engine, PTO and brake shutoffs on every machine.
- Shut down first, then call 911 with a clear address.
- Never jump in front of a rolling tractor.
- Keep rated extinguishers on tractors and in the shop.
- Practice the plan with every worker.
Why plan an emergency stop?
Seconds matter when a person is caught, a tractor is rolling away or a fire starts. People who have practiced react faster and with fewer mistakes. People who freeze or guess often make things worse.
Every tractor is different, so the plan starts with your manual. Find where it describes the engine shutoff, the parking brake and the PTO control for each machine.
A tractor with no ROPS, a loaded wagon on a hill or a hay baler on a slope each calls for slightly different thinking, so ask yourself what you would do in each case.
- Seconds matter
- Practice beats guessing
- Every tractor differs
- Start with the manual
What is the basic stop sequence?
The usual order is to take your foot off the throttle, apply the brakes, disengage the PTO, lower any attachments if you can do it safely, set the parking brake and shut off the engine. Then remove the key.
If someone is in danger, shutting off the engine and the PTO comes first. Know whether your PTO has its own shutoff, how it behaves when the engine stops and how long an implement coasts. Check the manual.
On a tractor with a clutch, push it in and brake together as the manual describes, since stopping the engine with the transmission engaged can cause a lurch.
What if someone is caught or injured?
Shut down the machine first. Then call 911 right away and give the farm address and location in the field. Keep the person still unless there is immediate danger such as fire. Do not cut or pull a person from a machine unless they cannot be left, and follow what the dispatcher tells you.
Send someone to the road or gate to guide the ambulance. If you are alone, call first, then give first aid within your training.
- Shut down, then call 911
- Give address and field location
- Keep the person still
- Send someone to guide the ambulance
What about a runaway tractor or loss of brakes?
If a tractor starts rolling away, do not jump in front of it. If you are on board, apply the brakes, take your foot off the throttle, shift to neutral or as the manual directs and steer toward open ground or uphill. If you cannot stop it, steer away from people and buildings.
After any brake problem, take the machine out of service. Brakes and steering are for a qualified mechanic, not for a quick fix in the field.
On a hill, never get off a tractor that is moving. Chocks and a parking brake matter even more on a grade, so set them whenever you stop.
What do you do in a fire?
Shut off the engine, get yourself and others away and call 911. If the fire is small and you are trained and have a rated extinguisher, you may use it from a safe distance with an exit behind you. If it is spreading or involves fuel, stay away.
Keep an approved extinguisher on each tractor and in the shop, and check them on schedule. Keep machines clean of chaff and grease, which can feed a fire. Fuel and battery fires need special care.
- Shut down, get clear, call 911
- Fight only a small fire with an exit behind you
- Extinguisher on every tractor
- Keep machines clean
How do you prepare your crew?
Walk each person through the shutoff controls for every machine they run. Practice with the tractor parked and the engine off first. Post the farm address and emergency numbers on each machine and in the shop.
Agree on stop signals for fields and noisy areas. A raised fist or crossed arms can mean stop. Make sure everyone knows they can stop work at any time.
Plan a drill each season: shut down a parked machine on cue and time how long it takes, then compare notes and fix the slow points.
- Show shutoffs on each machine
- Post address and numbers
- Agree on stop signals
- Everyone can stop the work
What should you do after an emergency?
Take the machine out of service until it is checked. Report the event, keep notes and review what happened without blaming. Replace used extinguishers, restock the first aid kit and fix what failed.
Check with your insurance agent about reporting requirements. Your extension office and farm safety groups can help you improve your plan.
Replace anything that does not work, such as a stuck shutoff cable or a weak parking brake, before the next job.
Sources and further reading
- National Ag Safety Database (NASD)
- OSHA
- Farm Safety Association / Farm Safety Network
- National Fire Protection Association
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.