Equipment used to handle round bales should be large enough to handle the bale and equipped with rollover protection. Loader buckets were not meant to carry round bales without a spear or grapple designed for the load. When working on slopes, always approach the bale from the downhill side. Bale transport wagons or trailers should have appropriate carrying capacity, proper width, and end racks. Use good judgement when stacking round bales.
High bales are sometimes easier to get up than they are to get down without problems.
Stay clear of the discharge spout. Allow the machine to stop before hooking up wagons. Keep knives sharp and properly balanced. Doors and shields should be tightly latched to deflect objects thrown by the cutter.