Agricultural Extrication 12 Agricultural Extrication
Knowledge Objectives (1 of 4) Describe ways to prepare for a machinery incident in your jurisdiction. Describe some of the common machine hazards. Describe how OSHA inspection procedures vary between factories and farms.
Knowledge Objectives (2 of 4) Identify and describe significant hazards unique to an emergency scene involving tractors and machinery, including, but not limited to: Stability Fuel and other fluids Electric, hydraulic, and mechanical power Environmental factors Other people
Knowledge Objectives (3 of 4) Describe a picket anchor system and its benefits and uses. Explain how to isolate an injury site. Describe the patient care priorities when dealing with a victim of a tractor/machinery-related injury.
Knowledge Objectives (4 of 4) Understand the importance of concurrent rescue and EMS operations. Explain how to terminate an incident.
Introduction Caring for the victim of an overturned tractor or other machinery entanglement can challenge rescuers. Technical rescuers need to use response planning to determine if they have the capacities to stabilize and lift the equipment used in their area.
Machine Safety (1 of 15) Many farmers and people who work around machinery think that accidents will not happen to them. The more comfortable people become working around hazards, the more likely they will get injured. Preparation is the first step to rescue management.
Machine Safety (2 of 15) Typical machine hazards: Pinch points: Created when two objects move together, with at least one of them moving in a circle. Courtesy of Eric J. Rickenbach
Machine Safety (3 of 15) Typical machine hazards (cont’d): Wrap points: Created when a rotating machine component is exposed.
Machine Safety (4 of 15) Typical machine hazards (cont’d): Shear points: Created when the edges of two objects move toward or next to each other closely enough to cut soft material. Courtesy of Eric J. Rickenbach
Machine Safety (5 of 15) Typical machine hazards (cont’d): Crush points: Created when two objects move toward each other or when one object moves toward a stationary object.
Machine Safety (6 of 15) Typical machine hazards (cont’d): Pull-in points: Points on a machine where an individual or object may be pulled into the moving parts Courtesy of Eric J. Rickenbach
Machine Safety (7 of 15) Most modern equipment has a shield or guard protecting hazard areas. Guards are often removed or damaged. Farm machinery is not subjected to the same regular inspections most industries are.
Machine Safety (8 of 15) Machines have energy sources that will need to be managed during rescue operations. Anticipate and control all of these energy sources prior to and during rescue operations. Machines can have one or more sources of power.
Machine Safety (9 of 15) Main source of power for portable machines: Hydraulic power through hydraulic hoses or steel lines Mechanical power through the power take-off shaft Electrical power through electrical wiring Pneumatic power through air lines and tubing
Machine Safety (10 of 15) Hydraulic power Tractors depend on hydraulics for many functions. Critical functions such as steering and braking can be lost. Some hydraulic pressures, or fluids under pressure, on farm equipment exceed 3000 psi. Never use the equipment’s own power to help with a rescue.
Machine Safety (11 of 15) Hydraulic power (cont’d) Anticipate that anything that is held up by hydraulics will need to be secured before the engine is shut off. Courtesy of Eric J. Rickenbach
Machine Safety (12 of 15) Mechanical power The power take-off (PTO) shaft is used to transfer mechanical energy to and throughout a piece of machinery. Example: from a tractor to a farm implement Courtesy of Eric J. Rickenbach
Machine Safety (13 of 15) Mechanical power (cont’d) If a person becomes entangled in the PTO, disassemble or cut the shaft. Unless it is a very minor entanglement, you should not attempt to unwind the victim.
Machine Safety (14 of 15) Electrical power The first action to stabilize a machine is to secure its power source. First shut off the engine, then manually stabilize the PTO shaft with a Halligan bar or pry bar. Electrical power from the tractor can also flow to an attached machine through electrical cables or cords.
Machine Safety (15 of 15) Electrical power (cont’d) Never use the power of the machine to remove the patient. When you shut off a machine, any object that is being held in an “up” position should be locked in the position prior to shutting off the engine.
Tractors (1 of 28) Few farms would be in operation without a tractor. The average tractor is at least 30 years old. Many of these tractors either have no safety mechanisms or have safety mechanisms that are in disrepair.
Tractors (2 of 28) Roll–over protective structure (ROPS) All agricultural employers are required by OSHA to equip tractors with ROPS and safety belts. Major tractor manufacturers have also adopted this standard. Courtesy of Eric J. Rickenbach
Tractors (3 of 28) Roll–over protective structure (ROPS) (cont’d) Roll bar creates a safety zone for the operator, and the seat belt holds the operator into that zone. Roll bar can also be used as a purchase point or lift point to assist in stabilization and/or lifting.
Tractors (4 of 28) Roll–over protective structure (ROPS) (cont’d) You can usually find a tag indicating that the structure is an approved ROPS structure. Do not be lulled into believing that the large tractors will not upset.
Tractors (5 of 28) Tractor overturns For a tractor to stay upright, its center of gravity must stay with the tractors stability baseline. The wider the baseline, the more stable the tractor.
Tractors (6 of 28) Bystanders May have been providing care before help arrived. Should be allowed to observe from a distance. Educate family members and neighbors on the reasons for your actions.
Tractors (7 of 28) Instability When encountering an overturned tractor, try to determine where the center of gravity exists. Also determine where the stability baselines exist.
Tractors (8 of 28) Hazardous materials A difference between a tractor roll-over and a vehicle roll-over is the location of the fluids in relation to the operator. Many of the fluids will be leaking from the center of the tractor where the operator sits. A charged hose line must be deployed to prepare for a combustible scene.
Tractors (9 of 28) Hazardous materials (cont’d) Electrical energy hot surfaces could result in ignition of fuels and other fluids. Assess for and control other potential hazards from pesticides, fertilizers, etc. Once the tractor is stabilized, it is safe to divert or dike the fluids away from the victim or rescue operations site.
Tractors (10 of 28) Power Securing the power source is the highest priority. Turning the key to the off position may not power down the tractor. Gasoline fuel systems—shutting off the electrical current will stop the engine. Diesel fuel systems—will often have a fuel shut-off valve
Tractors (11 of 28) Power (cont’d) On all tractor incidents, the key should be turned to the off position at the first opportunity. Understand how to affect the tractor engine if you cannot get to the operator’s station or if an ignition key cannot be located.
Tractors (12 of 28) Power (cont’d) Gas–powered tractors Pulling the coil wire will disrupt the electrical current and shut down the engine.
Tractors (13 of 28) Power (cont’d) Diesel tractors Locate the fuel pump to reveal the fuel shut-off linkage. It may take several minutes for the gas or fuel in the fuel lines to be burned through the engine.
Tractors (14 of 28) Power (cont’d) Propane fuel vehicles Shut off the electrical system to shut off the engine. Locate the propane fuel tank and turn off the fuel supply to immediately shut down these engines. Courtesy of Travis Martin
Tractors (15 of 28) Environmental conditions The discovery of a victim commonly occurs after dark. Accidents usually occur during bad weather when the ground is wet and slippery. Extra personnel will likely be needed to carry tools, equipment and the victim.
Tractors (16 of 28) Tractor rescue operations will use a lot of cribbing. Building a box crib consisting of three blocks per layer is preferred. Provides extra support and lifting capacity. Material will be exposed to wet ground and leaking oil.
Tractors (17 of 28) Picket anchor systems Provide a structurally significant anchor point for rigging system components.
Tractors (18 of 28) Picket anchor systems (cont’d) Holding power depends on: Diameter and kind of material used Type of soil Depth and angle in which the picket is driven Angle of the guy line in relation to the ground To increase the holding capacity, lash additional rods together. The principal strength is at the front pickets.
Tractors (19 of 28) If any upward pressure is exerted on the tractor’s wheels, you will need to secure the wheels to the frame of the tractor. Pick two points on the tire as wide as possible to secure.
Tractors (20 of 28) Front axles have a pivot point. Allows the tractor to traverse uneven ground while preventing the front end from lifting off the ground. Securing the pivot will alleviate unsuspected movement.
Tractors (21 of 28) Managing the victim involves vehicle or machinery entry, victim packaging, and victim removal. Farm machines can often be dismantled more easily than they can be cut apart. Once a rescuer is able to get close to the victim, he or she should determine how he or she is trapped.
Tractors (22 of 28) Ensure that parts of the machine on either side of the entrapped patient are secured. Isolating the injury site Rescue personnel develop extrication plans at the same time EMS is assessing the patient. Crushing injuries can be a major complication.
Tractors (23 of 28) Once the patient is assessed, the technical rescuers, EMS, and the IC need to decide whether a methodical or aggressive approach is needed. Based on patient’s condition and available resources.
Tractors (24 of 28) Common methods of extrication: Manual unwinding Disassembling parts Cutting, prying, or spreading parts of the machine Field amputation
Tractors (25 of 28) Always stabilize the machine and the victim first. Appropriate victim care needs to take place prior to and during disentanglement and extrication. Pain control should be considered. Compartment syndrome Crush injury syndrome
Tractors (26 of 28) Once EMS gives the go signal, the procedure must continue until the patient is freed. Prior to these efforts, the egress path must be cleared and communicated. Once the victim is moved to a safe location, his or her condition needs to be reevaluated
Tractors (27 of 28) Removing a victim from under a load Three basic strategies: Raise the load by lifting. Stabilize the load and lower the ground to enable patient removal. Combine the first two approaches.
Tractors (28 of 28) Removing a victim from under a load (cont’d) Follow these rules: Know the rated capacities /limitations of lifting tools. For every inch a load is lifted, insert an inch of cribbing. Know where purchase points are on a tractor. Build a sound and level base for the lifting tools. Protect the portions of the air bag that come in contact with the tractor. What is being lifted may be heavier than usual.
Terminating a Machinery Incident (1 of 3) Termination activities: Make the scene as safe as possible. Move disabled equipment. Upright an overturned tractor. Work with personnel to ensure that normal operations can be continued. Return all tools used during the extrication.
Terminating a Machinery Incident (2 of 3) Postincident analysis (PIA) Review of the incident and a way to constructively examine the positives and negatives of the incident. Includes identifying opportunities for improvement and addressing any necessary corrective actions. Invite everyone involved to participate.
Terminating a Machinery Incident (3 of 3) Postincident analysis (PIA) (cont’d) Consider arranging a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) Structured and confidential postincident meeting
Summary (1 of 6) You may not be prepared for the weight of the machine that needs to be stabilized, or the strength of the metal that it is made from. Technical rescue personnel should develop an understanding of what types of incidents are occurring in their community; they should also understand what types of tractors and machines are being used.
Summary (2 of 6) Fifty percent of total farm fatalities involve tractors and 14 percent are machine related. Typical machine hazards involve pinch points, wrap points, shear points, crush points, and pull-in points. The majority of farms in the United States are not covered under OSHA inspections or any other inspection mandates.
Summary (3 of 6) Machines can have one or more sources of power, and care needs to be taken to identify all of them. Rescuers need to anticipate stored and/or potential energy that may be released during rescue efforts. For many portable machines, the main source of power will come in the form of hydraulic power, mechanical power, or electrical power.
Summary (4 of 6) As with all incidents, without a stable scene, rescue actions cannot take place. Tractor stabilization will utilize a great deal of cribbing blocks because of the large voids that need to be shored up and the need to provide a suitable platform for lifting processes. Rescuers need to learn how to create a picket anchor system to effectively manage a tractor rescue operation.
Summary (5 of 6) One of the major differences between passenger vehicles and machines is the ability or lack of ability to remove pieces of the machine without causing damage to get to the victim. It is important to know the three basic strategies to remove a patient from under a load: raise the load by lifting, stabilize the load and lower the ground (dig) to enable patient removal, or a combination of raising and digging.
Summary (6 of 6) Termination activities for an agricultural or machinery incident include making the scene as safe as possible, moving disabled equipment, uprighting an overturned tractor, and working with personnel or members of the farm to ensure that normal operations can be continued.