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Safe Shutdown and Parking Procedures

Many injuries happen after the work seems finished. A consistent shutdown and parking routine keeps a machine from moving, starting or dropping a load when someone is near it.

Why does shutdown deserve its own routine?

People often rush the end of a job: leaving the engine running, hopping out to check something, or stepping off with the machine still in gear. Those habits are behind runovers, entanglements and unexpected movement.

A routine turns the end of the job into a set of automatic steps that protect you even when you are tired.

Shutdown habits also protect machines. Equipment parked and secured properly is less likely to be damaged, stolen or started by someone untrained.

What does a typical shutdown include?

Exact steps differ by machine, so the operator manual is your guide. In general, the sequence involves bringing the machine to a stop on level ground where possible, lowering implements, disengaging power to attachments, setting the parking brake, stopping the engine and removing the key.

Wait for all moving parts to stop before approaching them. Some parts coast down after power is off.

Hot exhaust and engine parts can burn, and some machines have components that keep spinning briefly. If your machine has special steps, such as a turbo cool-down, follow your manual. If the machine has a power take-off, make sure it is disengaged and that any shields are in place before you step off. Stay clear of rotating shafts.

• Stop on level, firm ground if possible
• Lower implements and loaders to the ground
• Disengage power to attachments
• Set the parking brake
• Shut off the engine and remove the key
• Wait for moving parts to stop

How do you pick a safe parking spot?

Park away from walkways, play areas and busy doors. Avoid slopes, soft ground and the edges of ditches or ponds. Leave room for emergency vehicles to pass and make sure the machine will not block visibility on a road.

On any slope, consult your manual and use chocks as described in the separate guide on blocking equipment.

Think about the weather. Rain can turn a firm spot into mud and a gentle slope into a slide. Parking in a consistent place with a level pad makes safe routines easier to follow.

Why remove the key?

A key left in the machine invites unauthorized use by children, visitors or inexperienced workers. Removing it also reduces the chance that someone starts the engine while another person is working underneath or around it.

Make it a farm rule that keys are kept in a specific place, and that nobody starts a machine they have not been trained on.

If a key is shared or a machine has a push button, find a way to prevent unauthorized starts, such as locked storage or a clearly assigned operator. Ask your dealer about options for your model.

What about servicing after shutdown?

Shutdown is only the first step before maintenance. Stored energy in hydraulics, springs, raised parts and belts can still move a machine. Use the manufacturer's lockout and service procedures, and see the farm guide on lockout and tagout for the concept.

Never work under a raised implement or loader that is held only by hydraulics.

If you leave the cab for a moment, still shut down fully. Many injuries happen during a quick step out to check something or clear debris.

How can you teach and enforce the routine?

Teach new workers by showing, then watching them do it. Add the steps to a laminated card in the cab. Review the routine at the start of each season and after any near miss.

Make it easy for anyone to speak up if they see a machine left running or parked unsafely.

Supervisors can lead by example. If workers see the owner follow the routine every time, they are likely to do the same.

Where can you get official guidance?

Refer to your operator manual, then OSHA's agriculture page and NIOSH's agriculture program. Your extension service or dealer can offer hands-on training. If someone has been run over or crushed, call 911.

Review your shutdown card every season with the whole crew, and ask whether any step is hard to follow, so that the routine stays practical.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.