Mousefield
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
- Messages
- 2,585
- Tractor
- Sold 2008 CK35 HST
I'm not sure if putting an object on the tensioned line really works. I once saw a story about a Rescue Squad who did a test by putting their fire coat on the winch cable. I think in the end it had very little affect...
That aside, that's what we still do at my Fire Department:
View attachment 272179Is a tarp enough weight???
Based upon what I've read I'm leaning toward use of a recovery strap - a strap which stretches to some extent and has NO hardware. The connections are all done via sewn loops - no metal of any kind.
See Recovery Straps - Tow Straps - Proper Usage
I like that idea (I've seen it elsewhere) to put something (a length of carpeting, a tarp, several jackets?) over the strap maybe 2/3's of the way toward the thing being pulled.
It seems to me that two safety precautions could have prevented this incident. First, bystanders could always stand at least a full chain's length away, and preferably two chain's lengths away from both ends of the chain (which will form the axis of the broken chain's rotation). Second, it sounds like the chain was tensioned suddenly by the accelerating truck. Is it ever safe to do this? I thought chains were always supposed to be tensioned slowly, and only snatch-straps were supposed to be jerked.
On top of that, it sounds like they were trying to pull out a stump, which is generally futile unless it has already been dug most of the way out. It doesn't feel right to criticize in this situation, but my guess is that this was probably an unsafe operation all the way around. I have done a lot of tree work with tree pros, and I can tell you that they are very careful and deliberate, almost delicate, in their work.
unfortunately they rarely give any details. What shape was the chain in? Did they use a chain as well as a rope or strap? People often forget the physics when doing stuff like this. If they managed to move the stump slightly now they've transferred energy into the stump. If the hook breaks that stump will want to roll back into it's hole and it will send the chain flying and not straight at the truck. As it unwinds it's going to swing a giant arc.
I once watched a guy put a hole in the middle of his tailgate when he hooked a tire to the receiver hitch and wrapped a chain around the tire and hooked the chain to a stuck vehicle. His thought was the tire would dampen the shock once the chain tightened. Once he yanked the slack out of the chain he ripped the shock off the stuck vehicle and turned it into a missile.