Farmer Crushed Under
Rotary Mower Deck

In the spring of 1998 a 76-year-old Iowa farmer was killed while working on a rotary mower in his machine shed. The mower was attached to the three-point hitch of his tractor, which he had backed into a machine shed to change the mower blades. He raised the mower to a sufficient height to work underneath, but did not provide support or blocking for the mower. While he was lying on the floor working on the mower, the tractor hydraulics were leaking and the mower deck was slowly coming down. He was probably aware of the hydraulic problem, for he had been working with this same tractor and mower for several years. At one point, he apparently tried to roll out from under the mower, but became trapped between the right rear wheel of the mower and the mower deck.. The mower continued to come down and pinned him to the floor, crushing him in the chest. A friend of the victim was expecting him to arrive in town for coffee and began to search for him when he did not appear. The farmer was found dead under the mower in his machine shed. The official cause of death was from suffocation.

1. Machines and their components should be securely supported during repair and maintenance.

--This fatal injury could have been prevented by using suitable blocking under the mower deck.
--Machine elements supported by hydraulic lines should not be considered securely supported.
--A leak, broken lines or valves, or someone touching controls may suddenly cause machines to move.
--A minor hydraulic leak is typical and will allow machine components to settle when power is off.
--Proper supports should be kept handy or on the tractor for maintenance work in the shop / field.

2. Hydraulic systems should be kept in good operating condition.

--It is common for older tractors and implements to have hydraulic pumps and valves that leak internally.
--This leakage will cause settling or jerky movement of hydraulic components.
--When it becomes significant, overhaul of the hydraulic elements is necessary to avoid injury, as in this case.
--Hoses and fittings should also be periodically examined for signs of wear and tear.