AlanB
Elite Member
Hmmmm,, not sure how to term this one, but I guess I will call it a "fortunate Close call"
First off, my DW runs a mowing, landscaping, hardscaping business.
We lost a couple of employees for some other pursuits, and we have 2 new employees working. They are a brother and a sister.
So the brother is trying to get the sisters attention. Brother weedeating, sister on an Exmark 60" ZTR. He walks towards her, on the left / discharge side.
She has the gaurd up. He gets right up too her, and gets his foot under the discharge chute.
He is wearing steel toed boots (not our requirement) What I believe happened (in the blink of an eye) is that as the blade struck the steel toe, it lifted his foot, the blade passed below the steel toe, and above the sole, seperating the boot at the stitches.
It cut off a slice off the bottom of his big toe. Fairly serious cut, but in the context of what could have been, nothing.
So, what went wrong.
Inexperience.
Hot, tired, sweaty working conditions
Gaurd up (One level of safety defeated)
Approached from the side, instead of the front.
That was a too close for comfort hit, but all in all, they are back out at it again today and that one could have been much worse.
Thought I would share, so a bunch of safety folks can jump all over about how there should be more guards / training etc. etc.
And some folks will take it as a little reminder, and maybe mention it to someone that will think about it for just a second before walking up too someone on a running mower.
First off, my DW runs a mowing, landscaping, hardscaping business.
We lost a couple of employees for some other pursuits, and we have 2 new employees working. They are a brother and a sister.
So the brother is trying to get the sisters attention. Brother weedeating, sister on an Exmark 60" ZTR. He walks towards her, on the left / discharge side.
She has the gaurd up. He gets right up too her, and gets his foot under the discharge chute.
He is wearing steel toed boots (not our requirement) What I believe happened (in the blink of an eye) is that as the blade struck the steel toe, it lifted his foot, the blade passed below the steel toe, and above the sole, seperating the boot at the stitches.
It cut off a slice off the bottom of his big toe. Fairly serious cut, but in the context of what could have been, nothing.
So, what went wrong.
Inexperience.
Hot, tired, sweaty working conditions
Gaurd up (One level of safety defeated)
Approached from the side, instead of the front.
That was a too close for comfort hit, but all in all, they are back out at it again today and that one could have been much worse.
Thought I would share, so a bunch of safety folks can jump all over about how there should be more guards / training etc. etc.
And some folks will take it as a little reminder, and maybe mention it to someone that will think about it for just a second before walking up too someone on a running mower.