* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFORMATION ALERT * * * * Produced by: New Brunswick Occupational Health * * and Safety Commission * * Provided by: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFO ALERT: 24 (NB) DATE: March 1989 *** HAZARD SUMMARY: SKIDDER OPERATOR FATALLY INJURED WHEN CLOTHING TANGLES IN P.T.O. SHAFT *** A 24 year old skidder operator was fatally injured when his clothing became entangled in a Power Take Off (P.T.O.) shaft of a skidder. The type of skidder involved was 1975 John Deere 440 B. On this particular machine, the battery box is located approx. 3 1/2" below the P.T.O. shaft for the winch in the articulating area. This P.T.O. shaft runs continuously when the motor is operating. After boosting to the skidder's batteries, the victim was attempting to replace the cover over the batteries when his clothing became entangled in the shaft. His body was drawn into the center of the machine and he died instantly of a broken neck. *** APPLICABLE SECTION(S) OF INDUSTRIAL REGULATIONS *** 1. The safe boosting procedures recommend by the Jon Deere Company for this particular skidder, are: a) boosting to the starter and/or b) boosting to the emergency (auxiliary) starting receptacle. The starting receptacle consists of a cable of which one end is bolted to the positive terminal of the starter and the other end fits through a bracket in a readily accessible location to facilitate the hook up of booster cables. 2. Is is recommended that an emergency (auxiliary) starting receptacle be installed on all John Deere skidders manufactured on or before 1976 including types 440, 440A, 440B, 540, 540A. Owners of these machines should contact a John Deere dealer for more details. 3. Employers, owners and operators of mobile equipment shall take corrective measures to ensure that all PTO shafts are adequately guarded. (Occupational Health and Safety Regualtion 33(46)) 4. All mobile equipment including skidders shall be maintained in good working order. (Occupation Health and Safety Act 9(2)(a)) This applies to the batteries and charging system as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *