PTO Safety

Power Take off accidents are one of the leading causes of accidents in agriculture and are responsible for a large percentage of deaths associated with tractors. Much like the way a vacuum cleaner will quickly wrap a piece of clothing around its rotating brush, a PTO drive can entangle its user with often horrible consequences. With the Power take off normally operating at 540 rpm or faster and with a great amount of horsepower available at the driven shaft, it is no wonder how the PTO can quickly entangle its user and cause death or dismemberment. So if you are involved with this type of equipment (or any rotating piece of machinery), please be extremely careful and make yourselves familiar with all of the operation manuals and manufacturer recommendations. The suggestions below are some of the typical caveats when dealing with PTO equipment.

Make sure all PTO guards or shielding is in place before operating any equipment. Guards should be in place whether the equipment is operating or not.
Repair or Replace any guards that are not per manufacturer standards
Stay at a safe distance from unshielded rotating parts
Make sure the PTO is not engaged when the engine is not running
Walk carefully around the equipment to prevent mishaps
Keep children away from and others unfamiliar with this type of machinery at a safe distance
MAke sure to disengage the PTO before getting off of your tractor
Make sure the the PTO is disengaged and all power is shut off and locked out before performing any maintenance
Keep all hair, clothing, hands and feet away from the PTO (beware of loose threads on your clothing, necklaces, and bracelets)
Tuck long hair safely under a hat before getting near the power take off
Make sure PTO shafts are in good alignment and are not installed at improper angles
Never work around rotating machinery when you are excessively tired or on certain prescription medications
Make sure you run your machinery at or below the rated speeds
Make sure the PTO shafts are sized properly for the given piece of equipment. Running a 6 spline shaft at 1000 rpm is not recommended- do not try to adapt to run at higher speeds.

Read your owners manuals and take extreme caution. PTO can kill.
Be careful out there