Safety Frames May Become Unsafe

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32010, 10 June 1969, Page 1

Safety Frames May Become Unsafe

Because it considers that some tractor safety frames or cabs may become unsafe as a result of rust, the executive of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs yesterday afternoon approved a remit from its Northern council seeking an investigation of the rusting of vital components of some makes of cabs with a view to the amendment of standards.

The remit will be referred to the National Safety Association; One make of cab or frame was named during the discussion.

Mr P. J. G. BeU (Northern council) said that the parts that were rusting were the underside of the horns that protruded from the four comers and where the safety frames were' fitted ,to the tractor. The horns.could bend or break and cause a far more serious accident. “There is not much point in having a safety frame fitted to a tractor if before the tractor has outlived its useful life the frame could be unsafe,” he said. Mr Bell suggested that the affected parts might be sandblasted and painted with a zinc paint to extend the life of the frame or cab. Later, he said it seemed to be the design that was at fault. Mr D. Mcßeth, who said that he had had one of the first frames in the South Auckland council area of the movement, told the executive that he had found grass growing at the corners of his frame and when he knocked the pipe with a chip hammer he had gone through it. The president (Mr W. S. Penno) said he thought that this was something that was concerning a number of people.

Suggesting that the matter be referred to the New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute at Lincoln, Mr G. B. Robertson (Canterbury) said that farmers would either have to have a permanent type of frame or have them tested every two or three years for a warrant of

fitness. It would certainly be desirable that they should be permanent.

The organising secretary (Mr H. C. A. Wards) said he had mentioned the position at a meeting of the agricultural advisory committee of the National Safety Association. If the remit was passed it could be put to the association.

A point raised during the discussion was whether a safety frame that had been damaged could be repaired again and certified as a safety frame.