Beef Cattle Running on Pivot Beef Cattle Pivots

Middle pivots take revolutionized irrigation, greatly increasing water application efficiency, and accept become a mode of life on many irrigated farms.

Pivots, like every machine on the farm, have several potential hazards, making it important to review condom procedures each year with every person on the farm. Every person who will operate the organization should read all the safety instructions in the motorcar'due south transmission or be trained by a knowledgeable trainer.

This commodity is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of safety precautions; always read and empathise the prophylactic instructions in your specific irrigation system's manual and refer to the rubber signs on the equipment when in the field.

The majority of pin systems are powered at some level by electricity. The industry has done an excellent chore of producing rubber equipment, which are past and large correctly installed past qualified dealers and electricians. However, because 480-5 power is existence used, safety must ever be a top priority: It can kill you.

Other hazards like falling or condign entangled in drive shafts must exist taken seriously as well.

Electrical safety

The almost important electric safety rule of thumb is: All equipment volition fail. Job 1 for the manufacturer, installer, operator and maintenance personnel is to brand sure that when it does fail, information technology fails in a safe way that will not impairment people or animals.

One of the almost common, as well as one of the biggest rubber hazards, with non just irrigation equipment but all high-voltage equipment on the farm, is not having the fourth grounding wire present or correctly connected all the mode dorsum to the power filigree or generator. Having the grounding rod correctly installed and continued is a requirement but is not a foolproof personal safety device by itself. Grounding rods can be installed in situations where they practice lilliputian good because of soil blazon or later a lightning strike. Some dealers take meters to check the rod installation for its resistance level if you lot would similar to accept it checked out. Checking the integrity of the 4th wire grounding organization back to the power grid or generator is a job for your electrician or pivot service technician unless you are competent electrician yourself.

A recommended procedure is to always touch high-voltage equipment offset with the dorsum of your hand – because if it is hot and you take hold of it with your fingers, you may not be able to let get. Likewise, if y'all suspect a trouble with the equipment, prepare information technology right away by calling your dealer if y'all are not qualified to practice the work yourself. Never slug or put a jumper wire around fuses to become the equipment running with the idea you lot volition gear up information technology later. Slugged fuses will impale people. A slight electrical tingle today may indicate a problem that may kill you under different environmental conditions tomorrow. The curt-term gains of getting the system running a mean solar day or two earlier is not worth the chance of someone being killed.

If the system is powered in whatsoever manner with electricity, always plow the disconnect switch to the off position and follow Lock Out/Tag Out procedures described in the operator's manual before doing whatsoever piece of work on it. An example of function of the Lock Out/Tag Out procedures may be placing a padlock on the disconnect switch to forestall someone else from turning information technology back on and starting the arrangement. Pivots are a long machine, and it is difficult for people to meet if someone is working on it. In addition, with remote start systems today, it is more important than ever – even if you are merely fixing a apartment tire, let alone if yous are working on the electrical organisation.

Stay away from pivots if lightning is in the area considering they are notorious for existence struck.

The pin panel high-voltage disconnect switch does non turn off all of the power inside the console. So if you lot need to work inside the panel to ready a trouble or even just clean out a nest from a mouse that got in the console through a conduit that was non properly installed, brand certain to turn the power off to the main disconnect switch or phone call your dealer if you are unsure how to turn it off. A voltmeter is a handy tool to check to make sure the power is off. The best procedure to use when using a voltmeter is to check the wires with the meter before the electricity is turned off to make certain the meter is working, and so plough the power off and recheck to make sure the right switch is turned off.

Other pivot safety hazards

The biggest non-electrical safety risk with pivots is missing driveshaft covers. Fifty-fifty though the tower motors are small, the center drive gear reduction results in an incredible amount of torque on the driveshaft. If someone is defenseless in the driveshaft, they can be seriously injured or killed. It is important to keep all safety equipment including shields in skillful repair.

Falls are another business when working on pivots. Never climb on a pin if it is running or moisture. The all-time method to perform overhead piece of work on a pivot is to utilise a personal lift device.

If the pivot has been applying pesticides or the field has been treated, follow all safe instructions on the pesticide label regarding re-entering the field and using personal protective equipment.

Never park or place anything on the pivot tracks. Pivots are an all-wheel-drive machine capable of crawling up and over or may crash themselves on anything placed in the manner.

Pivots are an essential part of many irrigated farms. By following safety procedures and keeping the system in good repair, it will provide a safe and efficient method of applying irrigation for many years to come up.

PHOTO:With 480 volts of power, center pivots deserve respect and caution, but don't underestimate falls and bulldoze-shaft dangers, either.Photo past Steve Melvin.

For more information and references: Condom concerns with center pivot irrigation systems.

Steve Melvin is a extension educator – irrigated cropping systems in Merrick County at the Academy of Nebraska. Email Steve Melvin .

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Source: https://www.progressiveforage.com/forage-production/irrigation/reining-in-center-pivot-hazards

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