Fasten your seat belt if you are operating a tractor that has a rollover protection structure. It can prevent injury by avoiding being jostled about within the device or thrown from it.

Avoid operating tractors near ditches, embankments and holes. And stay off slopes that are too steep.

Keep guards and shield on harvesters at all times. Always shut off the engine and wait for all movement to stop before removing guards and shields.

Keep hands, feet and clothing away from power-driven parts, including the picking mechanism, blowers and conveyors while the engine is running.

Do not clean, lubricate or adjust the harvester when it is running.

Before leaving the harvester unattended, engage the parking brake, shut off the engine and remove the keys. Never leave a harvester in an area accessible by children.

Sound the horn twice to warn others before starting a harvester’s engine.

Survey the area to be harvested for low hanging limbs, wires or other obstacles that will obstruct the path of the harvester or gondola.

To avoid electrocution and machine damage, do not operate harvesters or gondolas within 15 feet of electrical wires.

With continuous paper tray machines, it’s better to load or unload the paper in a cradle outside of the machine.

It’s best to use eye protection and possibly a respirator because of dust created in some harvesting operations.

If you see an electrical wire on the ground, call 911 or the utility company such as Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

If a vehicle hits a power wire, jump from it and do not touch it once outside of the vehicle. If you dig up a piece of cable, call for help and either remain on the tractor or jump clear of it.

When operating over-sized, slow-moving equipment on roadways, try to pull over to let drivers pass, but be aware of clearances from ditches or canals.