NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing Scalping and Other Severe Injuries from Farm Machinery

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NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing Scalping and Other Severe Injuries from Farm Machinery

This Alert describes five cases in which persons were scalped when their hair became entangled around inadequately guarded rotating drivelines or shafts of farm equipment driven by power take offs. Four cases involved women who were baling hay. In the fifth case, a 12-year-old girl was asked by her father to check the bale counter. All five of the incidents involved inadequately guarded drivelines and victims who were standing or walking near rotating drivelines. The drivelines involved were guarded by inverted U-shaped tunnel guards that did not completely enclose the drivelines. The drivelines were located about 4 feet above the ground, limiting visibility of the hazard. The drivelines concerned were associated with Models 54A, 54B, 58, and 62 of a bale thrower manufactured by New Holland prior to 1976. A retrofit safety shield kit has been available since 1976 for these older models. To prevent accidents, the power take off should be disengaged and the tractor turned off before leaving the tractor seat or approaching a driveline. Power take off driven machinery should be examined for U-shaped tunnel guards; all such guards should be replaced with retrofit guards.