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Accident prevention is really at the heart of Farm Bureau’s safety program, according to Ohio Farm Bureau Director of Safety and Youth Programs Darrell Rubel. "Many accidents are preventable by being vigilant and making safety a top priority for you and your loved one," he said.

Ohio Farm Bureau offers a member benefit when severe accidents happen. In 2003, 21 accidental death and specific loss claims were paid to Ohio Farm Bureau members. Nationwide Insurance pays the accidental death and specific loss insurance benefit to members who are killed or suffer a loss of limb, sight, hearing, hand, foot or thumb and index finger of the same hand as a result of a farm accident. In looking at the 2003 accidents, several were related to tractors.

To help raise members’ awareness of tractor safety, OFBF is promoting American Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week March 1 to 7.

Following are some tips from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety to keep you safe:

• Farm tractors should be equipped for rollover accidents. More than half of all farm tractors are not equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS). ROPS and seat belt-equipped tractors would save approximately 350 lives annually on U.S. farms.

• Farm tractors should be equipped with master shields and bypass starter covers. If the missing shield exposes an operating power take-off, operators are at risk for entanglement around the spinning shaft. Many farm tractors do not have bypass starter covers for preventing jump-starting. If the tractor is in gear, it could lurch forward and run over operators and innocent bystanders.

• Farm tractors should be equipped with SMV emblems. State vehicle codes require the mounting of a Slow Moving Vehicle emblem on equipment moving at less than 25 miles per hour on highways. SMV emblems warn other drivers of the slow moving vehicle on the roadway. Make sure your SMV emblem is up to date and not faded. SMV signs and farm kits are available at your county Farm Bureau. Note: It is illegal and dangerous to use SMV signs as driveway markers.

• Farm tractors should be equipped with emergency lighting. Operating headlights and hazard warning lights provide advance warning for other drivers sharing the highway with farm equipment. Note: lights must be used from sunset to sunrise.

• Farm equipment should be hitched properly. Farm tractors may become unstable when improper hitching is attempted. Tractor drawbars are designed for towing and take into account the tractor's crucial center of gravity. Hitching or towing at points other than the drawbar may result in a rear over-turn.

• Farm tractors should not transport extra passengers. Most farm tractors are only designed for one person. Extra riders on farm tractors are discouraged due to the hazard associated with falling from the tractor or falling into the path of trailing equipment. Carrying passengers may divert the attention of the driver from the important task of operating the tractor.

Accidental Death and Specific Loss Policy
To receive the accidental death and specific loss benefit, benefit levels are determined based on when you renew your membership and if you were wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The benefit will be increased by $500 if a Farm Bureau safety sticker is in place on the equipment involved at the time of the accident. If the member was wearing a seat belt, Nationwide will pay double the benefit otherwise payable for any insured using an approved seatbelt or child restraint system at the time of the accident.

For information about covered activities, refer to your policy. Contact Kathryn Benecke at Ohio Farm Bureau at 614-246-8274 for more details on this member benefit.