FACTS
- Farmers work with stored crops, chemicals, mechanical equipment, and ignition sources on a daily basis, so they are always at risk of burns from fires and explosions.
- Begin every harvest season with a clean machine. Pay special attention to the engine and engine compartment, since about 75% of all machinery fires start in that area. Use a pressure washer to remove all caked-on grease, oil, and crop residue. A clean engine will run cooler, operate more efficiently, and greatly reduce your chance for fire.
- Accidents in the handling, use, and storage of flammable fuels such as gasoline, propane, and diesel can result in serious fires or explosions. If these ignition sources are left unattended or placed in close proximity to hot machine parts, cutting torches, or other hot items, disaster can strike.
- Additionally, the improper use of farming equipment can damage underground natural gas lines, leading to explosions.
- Farm machinery that is defective, old, or improperly maintained can overheat and ignite crops, barns, or flammable materials.
STATS
- Combine and tractor fires cause over $20 million in property losses each year and millions more because of lost time and downed crops during the busy harvest season.
- In 2017, 416 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury due to farm machinery fires, resulting in a fatality rate of 20.4 deaths per 100,000 workers.
- Every day, about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time injury because of tractor fires.
- The most common type of tractor accident is tractor fires—The U.S. Department of Labor (USDL) reports that 44% of farm accidents are due to tractor fires.