Prevention aspects for avoiding run-over incidents with self-propelled agricultural machinery
Keywords:
agricultural machinery, run-over, incident, preventionAbstract
Run-overs are one of the most common incident scenarios with tractors, self-propelled harvesting and load transportation machines in Austrian agriculture. The aim of the study was to describe sustainable prevention measures against these kinds of incidents. For this purpose, the compliance with safety standards and directives in new machinery was investigated, currently available prevention equipment was identified and manufacturers were asked about the difficulties in the implementation of prevention measures against run-overs in new vehicles. In addition, a literature and internet research was done. The evaluation of new machines showed that self-propelled harvesting machines and tractors tended to be more frequently equipped with relevant safety technology, such as lights or mirrors, than evaluated load transportation vehicles. Additional technical equipment for detecting people, such as reversing cameras, were found only in about 10% of the tractors and vehicles for load transportation. Standards and directives to prevent run-overs were applied mostly by all manufacturers surveyed. Manufacturers designed the hoods and panels of the vehicles as clear as possible to achieve the best visibility for the driver. Blind spots cannot be avoided, so automatic detection systems and camera systems, and the combination of these two systems, are considered to be the most interesting safety assistance systems in the future. The main factors in run-over incident prevention remain the people. The fundamental requirement of preventing incidents is that the driver himself and the pedestrians in the environment follow safety rules.
Keywords: agricultural machinery, run-over, incident, prevention