---
title: Combine Safety and the Hazards to Avoid.
description: Combine safety can be broken into two main hazards—external hazards and ones you can control.
---

[Safer Times: The Good Day's Work Blog ](https://blog.gooddayswork.ag/blog)

# [Combine Safety and the Hazards to Avoid.](https://blog.gooddayswork.ag/blog/combine-safety-and-the-hazards-to-avoid-1-0)

 Written by [Good Day's Work](https://blog.gooddayswork.ag/blog/author/good-days-work) | Aug 29, 2017

When you and your harvest crew gear up for fall harvest, we hope you first follow our [tips on how to prep your farm for this season.](https://blog.gooddayswork.ag/blog/tractor-safety-4-steps-to-prep-for-a-safe-harvest-season) After you have, take a look at these common combine hazards, so you're as safe as possible on the job.

Combine hazards can be broken down into two main groups; external hazards and ones you can control. Below is a list of examples of each type of hazard.

**External Combine-Safety Hazards:****      **

- Heavy dust and debris particles—*which can, over time, lead to lung damage.*

- Loud noises from grain dryers, ventilation fans, tractors and combines—*which can lead to hearing loss, when endured with sustained frequency.*

- Discharge from choppers, distributors and spreaders—*devices that can subject you to high-velocity field debris, if you’re not cautious to avoid impact.*

- Fires—*which can happen due to a number of causes, such as smoking, equipment exhaust or overheated parts.*

 

**Combine Safety Tips & Hazards You Can Control:**

- Shut off the engine or initiate a full shutdown, while doing maintenance, making adjustments or clearing plugged machines.* This safety practice can prevent you from being pulled into **a rotating blade at 12-ft. per second. That's an entire arm's length pulled into the machine in just a sixth of a second! A little awareness can also go a long way.*

- Pay attention to the size and height of your equipment. *These are big machines; some nearly 16-ft. tall. Falling off can lead to serious injury. Don't forget that parts like the unloading auger add additional height, making trees and power lines even easier targets.*

- Use extra caution while attaching and detaching headers*. Never do maintenance or other work while positioned underneath your combine’s header without cylinder stops in place.*

- Be aware of your own limits. Harvest season is demanding. *Fatigue from long hours, pressure to finish and bad weather can all reduce alertness and effectiveness.*

We know you’re in a hurry to get your crops out of the field, but you should take your time when it comes to safety or you could find yourself as another farm-related injury statistic.

 

  

[View full post](https://blog.gooddayswork.ag/blog/combine-safety-and-the-hazards-to-avoid-1-0)

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