News

Tractor deaths in Michigan increasing

A preliminary report from Michigan State University says tractor-related deaths in the state doubled last year.

The Michigan Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program says agriculture and construction industries had the most fatalities in 2015, both with 25, and the transportation industry had 19 on-the-job deaths.

Overall, the group says agriculture fatalities have increased when compared to past years. Only four tractor-related deaths occurred in 2013, three in 2014, and there were eight fatalities in 2015 related to tractor use.

To help decrease tractor fatalities, precautions include retrofitting older tractors with rollover protection bars, wearing seat belts, maintaining PTO covers and properly blocking tractors during underbody maintenance.