v| SAFETY CHECKUP Vv Equipment Ownership 101—SafetyFirst (NAPSA)—Equipmentsafety is no accident. Just because you can even at low speeds. He suggests that utility vehicle purchasers automatically be good at operating tractors and utility vehicles. Keep- e safe makesureto: drive a car doesn’t mean you'll ing safety top of mind, John Deere offers practical tips to avoid injury whenoperating outdoor equipment. Compact Tractor Safety Tips A tractor is a lot like a com- priate for terrain and weather puter. It’s the add-ons that do the work. For computers, that means software. For tractors, that means attachments, such as rotary cutters and mowers, loaders and box blades. But with attachments come additional safety considerations. Because the attachments—whether on the front or back of the tractor—change the distribution of weight, it is impor- tant to keep ballast in mind. Think of it this way. Dinosaurs \) Though fun to operate, utility vehicles are not toys. Be respectful of the machine and its capabilities. e Pay attention to warning labels on tractors and their attachments. e Wear proper clothing, avoid- ing open-toed shoes and loose clothing. with long necks, such as the bron- Keep all protective shields in place on attachments. have likely tipped face forward tractor or attachment. Utility Vehicle Safety Tips The most frequent cause of Similarly, a tractor with a is speed, says Dave Stricker, man- offer plenty of ballast options, vices for the Horicon, Wisconsinbased factory of John Deere tosaurus, also had long tails. Without their tails to balance them, the brontosaurus would into the dirt. loader on the front needs added ballast in back. Manufacturers from front weights to wheel weights to ballast boxes. New tractor owners should also keep in mindthat a feature called a power take off—or PTO—lets the tractor send power to attachments such as rotary cutters and mowers. John Deere recommends that purchasers of compact tractors rememberto: e Read and understand the operator’s manual. Allow the dealer to explain vehicle operation. Read the operator’s manual. Make sure speed is appro- Never let children ride on a accidents involving utility vehicles ager of product engineering ser- Worldwide Commercial and Consumer Equipment. “We’ve had situations where people go too fast for the conditions or the terrain, which can result in the driver possibly losing control,” Stricker says. “That can cause the vehicle to go into the ditch or the driver and passenger to be ejected.” Stricker adds that operators can get themselves into trouble conditions. Be aware of the dangers of tipping, particularly when driving across slopes. e Only carry one passenger in the approved seat provided. Lawn Tractor Safety Tips Fires are the most frequent kind of incident involving lawn tractors and therefore should be a top concern. “Leaves and grass can accumu- late on the mower and around the muffler and engine and can catch on fire from the heat,” Stricker says. “In somecases, the fires may destroy the tractor and the place it is stored.” The most tragic personal injuries involving lawn tractors hap- pen when operators drive or back over children they didn’t know were there, Stricker says. Stricker suggests that riding lawn tractor purchasers remem- berto: Always keep children inside the house while mowing. e Never give rides to children. Avoid mowingin reverse. Mow up and downa slope, rather than across it, to reduce rollover risk. e Avoid mowing on slopes that the tractor cannot back up. Remember, don’t take safety for granted. Note to Editor: This is the sixth installment in an ongoing series that provides helpful tips and advice to rural homeowners who are first-time equipment buyers.
