Farming can be a dangerous profession. But while safety features on today’s farm equipment offer more protection to the operator than ever before, the constantly increasing size of farm equipment poses its own inherent risk to the safety of both the operator and those around the operator.

“The size of the equipment is a huge factor,” said Rod Goff, manager of Carrico Implement in Ellsworth.“I think awareness is also a big factor. Remember, sometimes the operator cannot see you. If the engine is running — keep back. Make some communication with the operator so they know you are around that piece of equipment.”

John Lamatsch, manager of Ellsworth’s KanEquip, Inc., agreed.

“The operator needs to be aware of his environment,” he said.“The sizes of equipment has gotten to the point where you almost need a second person outside looking in. So making yourself aware of your surroundings, not only in the field, but when you are starting up in the yard, is of utmost importance.”

Goff said today’s farm equipment is equipped with a variety of safety features such as seat belts, rollover protection, better lighting and safety shields.

“Some come with cameras installed on them so the operator can see all around the machinery,” he said.

Examples include air seeders, combines and grain carts.

Goff said the addition of a training seat, or buddy seat, beside the operator’s seat on tractors, combines, swathers and sprayers helps new operators be trained safely from inside a glass enclosed cab instead of the trainer standing on a ladder in the open air while the machine is in motion.

“Any piece of equipment that doesn’t have a buddy seat should probably not have a passenger onboard,” he said.

Lamatsch said falling grain prices also weigh heavily on farmers, and could distract them when it comes to being safe around farm machinery.

“There are challenges that come with downturns and it does weigh on them,” he said. “Through good times and bad, we consult with them on equipment needs, service needs, and parts repair needs — we’re not just an in and out store. With the environment we’re in right now, everyone is watching their bottom line.”

Goff said today’s larger farm equipment is more difficult to repair than those of the past. The weight of the larger equipment is also becoming more of a factor when it comes to ground compaction.

“I think we will keep seeing bigger and bigger equipment,” Goff said.“Fewer and fewer farmers are going to have to do more and more work, so equipment has got to get bigger. Farmers know they’ve got to get bigger machinery because they all farm more acres than they used to — and the machinery has to grow with it.”

Goff said most farmers appreciate the safety features included on farm machinery.

“I think some of the safety features are overlooked by some,” he said.“We should probably read the operator’s manual more than we do — especially the safety side of it.”

Goff said the best things operators of farm equipment can do to keep safe is read and follow the safety instructions in the operator’s manual, provide training for all those operating the machine and keep aware.

Both Goff and Lamatsch said they often see missing safety shields on equipment brought in by farmers for repair or service.

Both managers also said if they trade for a piece of farm machinery that isn’t still equipped with all the safety features it had when it was sold new, they will install that equipment at the dealership’s cost before it is sold again.

“We are required on our end to send that piece back out, if we do resell it, with all the proper safety devices,” Lamatsch said.