Reader safety tip: Wear your seat belt in your tractor

Essex reader David Gunary has won the Farmers Weekly safety tip of the month competition, run in association with Buckler Boots.

Mr Gunary, who leads forklift and other training courses, says he has noticed there have been a number of accidents involving tractors in recent months and there might be fewer serious injuries if more people wore their seat belts.

And he has identified the point in time at which he thinks people should get into the habit of belting up.

“When starting modern tractors and forklifts there is now a few seconds when the computer does its checks before allowing the engine to start. In this time it is possible to put on the seat belt.  Use this as a prompt, so that eventually it becomes second nature. Why wouldn’t you put your seat belt on? You would in a car.”

See also: Reader safety tip: Use scissors when recycling fertiliser bags

Mr Gunary said as far as he is aware no farm machines are fitted with airbag protection and in an accident there is a strong possibility of hitting the steering wheel, if not the windscreen.

“The accident may not be the tractor driver’s fault, but allow the cab and the seat restraint to do their job and give the driver as much protection as possible.”

Mr Gunary, who has been involved in the farming industry for more than 30 years, wins a pair of boots of his choice from the Buckler Boot range.

Have you got a farm safety tip or story to share that might help raise awareness of the dangers of working in agriculture?

To be in with a chance of winning, simply send us a short tip or an account of what happened to you (or to someone you know) and each month we will pick out the best one to publish.

The winning entrant will receive a pair of Buckler Boots of their choice.

Entries can be emailed direct to safetytips@rbi.co.uk. Alternatively, look out for the in-store ”Safety Tip” cards in any of the 500 Buckler Boots stockists.