A simple safety question?

[powerstroke444e]

My kids are kept away unless the tractor is off & setting in the shed, my kids know the first thing is if it has keys they need to give them to me(then I lose them). Would I let them ride in the bucket yes only while setting still.
I have a small toy backhoe for my son and give him a pile of rocks or dirt to dig with his while I am working with mine but only if someone else is there to watch him so he can't run out to get ran over. I do let them ride in the cab of the combine but it has a buddy seat.
I have been in the bucket and had someone in the bucket to do work, would I ever say it was safe NO. Have I ever pushed my limits yes, but kids don't know they have limits so think before you put your kids in harms way they don't know what will hurt or kill them. I make a living selling insurance and financial products and the hurt on a parents face when they have lost a child is undiscribable, I hope I can go the rest of my career without having to deal with that again.

 

[J_J]

It is never OK to carry people in a tractor bucket, especially with kids. You never know what they will do at any given time. Just don't do it.

 

[tatra805]

And even if it all goes perfect for years because you are a careful parent...

the kid becomes old enough to drive the tractor himself and on a given day takes his friends, or later your grandchild for a ride in the bucket just because he is used to it being normal, but lacks the experience or simply didnt know you were always avoiding an area when driving with him in the bucket and then all of a sudden ......

etc

People always wonder afterwards how something happened. Maybe it would be wiser to think twice upfront and take the safe route when in doubt.

Getting killed or injured while doing a job the right way is called an accident. But in this case at best you can call it ignorance or stupidity.

i dont want to sound arrogant here, i also stand in the bucket, and do more uncarefull things but at 32 that is my decision with nobody else involved and based on my experience and a lifelong "be careful" education.

 

[Transit]

Now let's think about it some. I don't remember seeing any of the tractors manufactures classifying their tractors as Passenger Vehicles. All the attachment manufactures have a clause on their operations manuals stating not to be carrying passengers on the equipment. So, what's to think about?
No passengers means, no passengers. Oh, dose that mean me?

Have you ever seen someone walk through a spinning aircraft propeller? I never, never, never let any of my passengers out of the cabin when the engine is running. NEVER!

 

[BlacknTan]

A good case could statistically be made that it's unsafe to get out of bed in the morning.. Unfortunately, barring a Utopian existence, many of us need to live in the real world, and face the challenges and dangers thrown at us everyday..

I'm sure its more dangerous to get behind the wheel of a vehicle than to ride a short distance in the bucket of a tractor.. But, this comes from someone who's seen more injuries caused by OSHA than prevented!

God gave man a brain for a reason... So HE could decide what's best for he and his family... NOT some pencil necked beaurocrat that doesn't know the first thing about the subject he's protecting us from!

 

[newbury]

Do you think it is a SAFE practice to let children ride in the bucket of a tractor?

Definitions -
Safe - less chance of getting hurt than just walking around

Practice - doing it on several occasions without necessity. Your not putting them in the bucket so you can drive them from a car sinking in a calm pond to the shore. Your putting them in the bucket to transport them and maybe say some chain, or to get video.

Children - human offspring between the first grade and high school (not babies, toddlers, or young adults)

ride - like in a car - secured down, not standing up and waving - and proceeding in low gear like you are carrying heavy fine antique china

bucket of a tractor - fully curled and just above ground level, NOT up at full extension

Given all of these definitions #3!! NO!.

Especially for the utube fanatics!

"Here's little Johnny riding in Grandpa's tractor bucket"
"Whoops! Grandpa hit a bump"
"Here's little Johnny falling under the tractor wheel"
"Here's little Johnny being buried"

You can't always control dogs and teenagers, but when they jump in the bucket you can stop and put it down.

Not let's get down to the real safety issues - I just got my third chainsaw,where can I get classes to juggle them while they are running?

 

[Negligence]

Very, very, very low-risk to me. Not even worth a second-thought.

There's just too many other things to worry about than the safety of having some fun in a tractor bucket for good memories. Parents trying to bomb-proof an experience for their kids doesn't make sense. Gotta give the kids a chance to live a little, huh?

There's probably higher risk of falling down the stairs than falling out of a bucket. Just because it's a tractor doesn't mean it's considerably more dangerous!

 

[J_J]

You all know the correct answer. You also know what you will do anyway. The risk is yours for what ever reason. If they get a good ride, they may thank you, but if one or all fell off, they may curse you or sue you, or both. Like some said, we all take our chances based on experience. Would you let your neighbor ride your kids around in his tractor bucket? What if your son fell off, would you blame your neighbor, or your self? It is always a matter of choice, and sometimes we find out it was a bad choice. To each, his own.

 

[The Haymaker]

I would never put my two year old in the bucket, but he has logged many hours sitting in my lap. He started this at 3 months.

Before you draw in air to curse me, let me give you a stroke and say he has ALSO logged several hundred miles sitting in front of me on the street bike this summer. He's also spent a lot of time on a quad and a teeny tiny bit on a dirtbike, but only under very mellow riding conditions.

Any of you libs need me to call for a defibrillator?

Had to add this vid, thought of it after. Hee hee! I'd murder anyone who did this with my kid!

 

[kdm0811]

Time for my 2 cents.

Even without an accident, there should be injuries.

If I found my son driving my grandson around in a bucket. I would end up with bruises on my knuckles..., and probably a broken toe or two.