Filbert harvesting equipment hazard

Hazard Alert

Stay clear of moving parts until you have turned the equipment off.

Download a printable (pdf) version of this hazard alert.

Safety guidelines

Do not attempt to operate harvesting equipment until you are thoroughly familiar with the information and safety precautions in the owner’s manual.
Stay clear of all moving parts on sweepers, harvesters, and hoppers.
Turn off the equipment and do not clear debris from the hopper until all moving parts have stopped.
Never ride in the hopper.
Manufacturer warning labels must be clearly visible on the equipment and printed in a language that workers understand.

At harvest time, workers often try to clear debris from the hopper while the augers are still turning. However, their clothing can get caught and wrap around the augers. Workers have died because they are crushed and cannot breathe.

Placing guards over the augers can help keep clothing away. Yet, to be safe, before clearing debris or doing any maintenance work, turn off the equipment.

1. Filberts are normally harvested from mid-September through early November. A sweeper pushes the loose nuts into rows, along with leaves and other ground debris.

2. A tractor-pulled harvester vacuums the loose nuts on the ground, blows out the leaves and debris, and moves the nuts along a conveyer into a hopper (also called a “nut cart”).

3. At the end of the row, two horizontal augers in the hopper level the nuts and move them to the back of the hopper. A conveyer belt moves the nuts to a tote.

Full totes are loaded onto flat-bed trucks and trailers and are taken to be processed.

Hazard alerts provide information on hazardous materials, equipment, or practices. For more information contact the Oregon OSHA Standard and Technical Resources Section at 503-378-3272, toll-free at 800-922-2689