Is lack of training killing tractor operators?

[kevin37b]

I am fairly new to tractors. I appreciate how dangerous they can be. "Tractor Jim" just posted about pushing tree limbs with his tractor, and how one acted like a "bow" and snapped back against his forehead-- almost killing him. There are many stories like that.

Before tractors, I flew airplanes. In 1,500 hours of flight time, I've landed airplanes in most of the 48 continental states, and the Arctic Circle. Compared to airplanes, it seems tractors are equally dangerous. Whether it is buckets or branches, a brush hog throwing rocks, slopes, or a spinning PTO shaft, there is much to go wrong.

A *huge* difference is operator training. On delivery of my first SCUT tractor, the dealer showed me each control and described what it was for. Then thank you and goodbye. It was only later, when reading the manual, that I learned not to make quick turns with a loaded bucket high up in the air. I only learned that tip after I had been out operating my new tractor. Maybe that seems obvious to the experienced operators, but it wasn't obvious to a newbie. After all, I had a shiny new big heavy powerful tractor, right?

To compare, I had 35 hours of flying with an instructor before being allowed to "solo" an airplane. Then a required 200 hours of pilot-in-command flight time before I could even attempt an instrument rating. Then another forty hours training to receive the instrument rating. With FAA checkrides to pass or fail at each step. With a heavy emphasis on safety of operation and risk management.

Recently I bought my Massey 1758 cab model with grapple, etc. On delivery, the dealer showed me each control and explained what it was for. Then thank you and goodbye.

I'm surprised by the difference in safety training. With airplanes, a lot is required, with tractors, none. I presume that is responsible for some number of injuries and death. I'm not an advocate for government regulation, but as a newcomer it does seems this is a woefully lacking part of the industry.

You are a pilot and do not understand CG ?

 

[bcp]

Seems like most of the tractor deaths I read about are people who have been operating tractors for most of their life, not new owners.

Bruce

 

[frugalangler]

there is something that comes with every new tractor it's called a MANUAL.

And many of them are less than good, there's a safety shield on mine that is ONLY touched on in the very front of the book in the safety section in a rather generic way, but if you go to the detailed 'operation' section for the 3-point there is NO mention of how to use or place the shield (there are a couple threads on this forum about it) - I read, re-read, and read again the entire section and never found reference - it was only until I read on the thread that it was referenced in the 'safety' section not the operation section!

So, yes, RTFM, but sometimes it still leaves a knowledge gap, if my dealer had have taken the 2 minutes to explain that ??? Sometimes a few words spoken are worth 100 words written.

 

[Thomas]

Lots of these accidents could have been avoided w/common sense,take a risk you may have to pay the price,have doubt stop think about it....gotta know your limitations.

 

[ovrszd]

Then add in the accountants that drive build cost and profit, resulting in things like objectionable and intrusive safety shields like those that prevent easily connecting a PTO shaft to the back of a tractor, there has to be a better way to 'flip' one out of the way temporarily rather than being fixed and being removed by a pzzz'd off operator. How many of you have removed that piece of sheet metal and it's sitting in the back corner of your shop?

Back in the day I saw a lot of them removed. My Ford's is missing, wasn't on it when I bought it. My Kubota's actually flips up, mostly out of the way, so it's still on.

 

[ovrszd]

Seems like most of the tractor deaths I read about are people who have been operating tractors for most of their life, not new owners.

Bruce

Yep, someone mentioned that earlier. The more a "tool" is used, the more that's expected from it.

The Safety Police will be all over me for this statement. If you've never had your tractor on 3 or maybe 2 wheels you have no idea how stable/unstable it truly is.

 

[mapper]

And for every person who finds all of the safety shields and interlocks to be a prudent precaution there is someone who finds them to be unnecessary and intrusive. I recall a thread a while back about the wisdom or folly of replacing the solid top link on a brush hog with a length of chain.
I guess that one's safety in operating a tractor is a personal decision and if something goes badly wrong due to ignoring the safety equipment provided, physics and common sense it is on the owner-operator and they pay the price, either monetary or injury.
If I was running a business involving equipment and employees operating that equipment I would make sure that every employee was trained and every safety shield and interlock was in place. The liability of ignoring them could ruin you in an instant.

 

[Citydude]

Lawyers are the reason there are so many warning stickers plastered all over power equipment and machines...

Well, actually the root cause of the warning stickers is people who got injured or killed not using common sense while operating those machines.

 

[davisgary2]

Well I will probably be the cause of a new warning label. I was putting the bucket back on my L3560HSTC saturday. The locking pins were not lined up and I gave the bucket a shove to line them up. The bucket was off and on my foot before I realized what was happening. It's going to be a long 6-8 weeks.

 

[Citydude]

Well I will probably be the cause of a new warning label. I was putting the bucket back on my L3560HSTC saturday. The locking pins were not lined up and I gave the bucket a shove to line them up. The bucket was off and on my foot before I realized what was happening. It's going to be a long 6-8 weeks.
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Holy Cow! I sincerely hope you have a speedy recovery. It looks horribly painful.