Power take-off (PTO) shafts have been involved in numerous serious and disabling entanglement accidents, many of which have resulted in fatalities.

To mitigate the risk of entanglement, various guards, shields, and couplings have been designed. It is crucial to ensure that PTO shaft covers, master shield guards, and clutch guards are properly installed and maintained in good working condition to protect workers and bystanders from injury.

Preventing Deterioration from Ultraviolet Light

Concerns about the difficulty of maintaining PTO shaft guards and preventing their deterioration due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light can be addressed by:

• Removing the shaft from the machine when not in use and storing it undercover.
• Disassembling the shaft and applying oil and grease to the slide.
• Ensuring that the power input coupling (PIC) guards (the bell-shaped pieces guarding the universal joints) are not damaged or altered.
• Purchasing shaft guards made from black UV-resistant plastic.
• Regularly releasing the PIC guard clips and clearing them of dust, grease, and other materials to allow for proper lubrication of the shaft's moving parts.

Safe Work Procedures

Safe work procedures should always be followed when working around energized or operational machinery. For example:

• Do not exit the tractor cab until the PTO has been disengaged and the machine's rotating parts have come to a complete stop. Ideally, switch off the tractor's engine before leaving the driver's seat.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing around machinery.

Employers must ensure that a task risk analysis is conducted and that workers are adequately instructed in the safe operating procedures for the task and the equipment to be used.

Farm Machinery Injury: Power Take-Off Shaft Guards, ACAH 2006