Farmer Died When Clothing Was Entangled in a Rotating Power Take Off Shaft

SUMMARY

A 54-year old female farmer was killed in the fall of 2016 when her clothing became entangled in the unguarded rotating power take off (PTO) shaft of a tractor she was using to power a corn elevator. She and the owner were using a PTO driveline to power a corn elevator, which in turn was used to transfer corn from a wagon into a corncrib. Once the elevator was running and the decedent had begun to unload the corn from the wagon onto the elevator, she suggested to the owner that he go harvest more corn while she continued by herself. About 20 minutes after the owner returned to the field to continue harvesting corn, the owner’s brother discovered the body of the decedent. The decedent’s clothing had become caught in the gear of the rotating power shaft where it connected to the corn elevator, leading to further entanglement of the decedent and extensive trauma. No part of the PTO driveline was guarded or shielded. Emergency response was called and the decedent was declared dead at the scene.

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