Approximately 240,000 old tractors without safety devices Actions taken by manufacturers 5:34 on August 1

As tractors overturned and died during farming, we found that there were at least about 240,000 older tractors, without safety devices to prevent them from being laid underneath when they tumbled. It was. In the past year, 73 people were killed in a tractor accident, and some agricultural equipment manufacturers have begun to take measures.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the number of people who died during agricultural work has risen to 3,450 during the 10 years until the death of adults.

Of the 274 people who died, 23%, or 26%, died due to tractor overturning or falling.

NHK collected data by interviewing four major domestic agricultural equipment manufacturers in order to investigate the current status of tractors.

As a result, it is estimated that approximately 1.47 million tractors are in operation in Japan, of which approximately 240,000 old tractors do not have a "safety frame" to prevent them from being laid underneath when rolled over. I understand.

The "safety frame" is an iron frame behind the driver's seat, which creates a space around the driver's seat when the vehicle rolls over a slope or step, and prevents the driver from being the underlay of the tractor.

A tractor has been required to have a safety frame installed since 1997 when it has been examined by the "Agricultural Research Organization" for research in the agricultural field and the safety of agricultural machinery. Many are still used as is.

"Agricultural Research Institute" conducted a survey on farmers in 2005 and analyzed the fall and overturn accidents of tractors. As a result, when a safety frame was installed, out of 73 accidents, about 3 were fatal accidents. %was.

However, without a safety frame, the fatal accident out of 107 accidents was about 25%, or about 8 times.

Against this backdrop, some agricultural equipment manufacturers have begun to take measures such as calling for the installation of safety frames.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has established an expert conference in February this year and is considering measures to reduce tractor accidents.

Initiatives by major manufacturers

Some major agricultural equipment manufacturers have begun to take measures to prevent the death of tractors.

Among these, “Kubota” started in April as an initiative to install a safety frame by visiting farmers directly.

It is estimated that there are about 33,000 old tractors manufactured by KUBOTA and currently in operation that can be fitted with a safety frame afterwards.

The company explains that it can prevent fatal accidents when the tractor rolls over, and then is installing safety frames on older tractors.

In order to reduce the burden on farmers as much as possible, it means that the cost is 10,000 yen, which is one-tenth of the conventional cost.

Takuya Otake of the Kubota Shimonoseki Sales Office in Kubota, Shikoku said, “We think it is very important to install a safety frame to protect the lives of farmers. I feel that there are few people who are conscious of it, so I would like to continue activities to raise awareness of safety."

In addition, "Iseki Agricultural Machinery" has begun efforts to prevent tractor rollover accidents this June.

A small tractor owned by many private farms means that if you accidentally brake only one of the left and right brakes when running without connecting the left and right brakes, the tractor may suddenly turn and overturn or fall. ..

For this reason, we are developing a device that informs not only the warning lamp but also the buzzer when the accelerator is stepped on without connecting the left and right brakes.

Iseki Agricultural Machinery says, "In Japan, the aging of agriculture is progressing. I think it is absolutely necessary for manufacturers to make products that consider safety in order to reduce accidents even a little." I am.

Expert "Difficult to notice danger"

“The tractor is a sturdy machine and can be used for a long time if it is maintained. Some people have used it for more than 30 years because they want to use it for a long time. For that reason, there are people who are still using tractors that do not originally have a safety frame, and we have had repeated accidents.”

In addition, “Farmers work every day using the machines they are accustomed to in the rice fields and fields they are accustomed to, so it is difficult to realize that there is a danger there. Producers are aging and young. I think there is a higher risk of serious accidents than people do. It is important that each manufacturer also makes efforts to ensure the safety of the tractor."

“In the coming era, it will be practically difficult to develop the industry without safety. Veterans who are working now can continue to work well, and new farmers are also rewarding. We need to think about it as a whole agricultural industry so that we can work in it.” He said that it is important for related organizations to work together to promote accident prevention measures.