“We know that harvest time is intense, exhausting, and invigorating all at one time. That’s why we talk so much about preparing ahead of time. Make your key-on-a-stick (or several of them) today. ”
A simple key-on-a-stick can remind equipemt operators to take extra care at harvest. Easy to make, easy to use.
Fingers missing, arms gone, or worse. Heartbreaking accidents and near misses make us cringe. If only…
I would have shut off the chopper and pulled the key before unplugging
I would have waved a flag at the wagon to communicate my message and confirmed that the other person saw me
I would have remembered to stop the PTO before reaching across
Safety must always remain in our minds, no matter how excited - or exhausted we are. Our families expect us to come home, even for a few hours’ sleep and a hot meal. Our equipment comes with multiple warning placards, but the more small reminders we place, the better our chance of keeping ourselves in one piece and back at it tomorrow.
Over the years, we’ve suggested several tips and tricks, and this waterproof key-on-a-stick is a significant reminder to take the key out of the ignition. It doubles as a neon flag that is easy to see when trying to communicate to someone who certainly can’t hear you and may not see you. It’s a simple dowel with a hole drilled in one end, and a piece of orange or yellow tablecloth material from the fabric store. Sew, staple, or glue the flag on the stick and it becomes a valuable safety tool. (If you use it as a means of communication, you’ll need to figure that out amongst yourselves, but that isn’t hard.) Make one for every tractor, truck, and pickup you’ve got. And yes, the bigger the better (as long as it fits neatly).
This is a good idea even if you’re not chopping - maybe you’re running a feed truck in a feed yard or dairy…what are your best safety tips and tools?
Check our website for videos on harvest and forage feeding safety.