07:46 am, Monday 30 March, 2009

WorkSafe WA has issued a safety alert on the importance of adequately guarding power take-offs (PTOs) following the occurance of a number of injuries.

According to WorkSafe WA, guarding or shielding the moving parts of any machinery is crucial, but PTOs are an area of particular concern, particularly in the farming industry.

A PTO allows a farmer to harness the power of a tractor engine to drive a variety of machines.

It is common for clothing and body parts to become caught in unguarded rotating shafts. These incidents can result in serious injury, such as amputations.

Three different guards are required for PTOs in order to make all the moving parts safe. These include guards on the power output coupling, the implement power input coupling and the power take-off shaft.

WorkSafe says the guards must meet the relevant Australian Standard and be the correct size and length for the application.

The following additional safety measures should be taken when working with PTO equipment:

• disengaging the power drive;
• stopping the tractor engine;
• ensuring controls are in neutral and the hand brake is applied;
• removing the engine key;
• wearing clothing with no loose ends or strings to catch on or be caught by the machinery;
• keeping long hair under a cap or tied back to prevent it from being caught by the machinery;
• checking guards regularly for wear and damage; and
• repairing or replacing damaged or missing guards.

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