80% of accidents

[Branch]

According to the folks at CAT:

"Eighty percent of accidents occur when
getting on or off of a machine."

"Keep facing the machine when
climbing or descending; use hand-rails
and steps. Always keep three
points of contact. Never jump off."

A couple of years ago, before I got my tractor, somone on this site mentioned that you should always get off machinery the same way you got on. I took that to heart and now it would be very unnatural to get off facing away from the machine.

For me it's been 100% of the accidents I've had have been while getting on. I'm 6'3" and I've smacked my head on the canopy far more times than I'd like to admit. I'm considering wearing a hard hat to reduce my tractor accidents.

Branch

 

[billfires]

Branch, I'm tall also and hit my head a couple of times on the roll bar while operating the BH. I wear a hard hat, gloves, and safety glasses every time I use the NH. They sit on the seat when I am done.

Bill C

 

[centex]

The first day I got my tractor I folder the tall ROPS down and 5 minutes later I climbed on the BH and banged my head on it. It has not been folded down since and I plan to keep it that way. If I were 6'3" tall I would wear a hard hat anytime I was near the thing.

A few weeks ago I was getting on and off the tractor frequently while removing or attaching the BH, I don't remember which but on one trip off I missed the step and fell flat on my back from the operators platform. The surface was asphalt and I saw a bright flash when my head bounced off the pavement. Luckily nothing was broken like a rib and I did not get a concussion but I did have a sore neck for the next week from the whiplash resulting from trying to keep my head from swinging back. I don't know if a hard hat would have helped much in this case but it might have. I think it would likely have flown off in the fall.

 

[rdln]

I dont agree with that procedure when applied to compacts.

First of all CAT doesnt build with anything with less than three steps to the operator's station.

And I believe there too many snags to catch pocket flaps from pants or coats on a compact's cramped ingress/egress path. I am always facing the direction I travel. Thats just me though.

 

[Branch]

I do wear my chain saw helmet with face sheild when I'm working around trees because I've had several close calls with branches hitting me in the face. Maybe I'll just start wearing it all the time. Smacking my head against the canopy usually happens towards the end of the day when I'm getting a little tired and after the umpteenth time of climbing back up on the tractor I'll miss ducking all the way by 1/2". I always hit the same spot.

Branch

 

[Von]

Branch, Watch it, thats how bald spots start out!/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Branch]

Actually I hit the bald spot every time. I think the scab keeps the shine down a little though. Not quite as noticable.

Branch

 

[DavidInNH]

I've been wearing my chainsaw helmet because of the hearing protection and because I run the chipper a lot. I would have thought that the 4 post ROPS would have stopped the branches, but the front posts just seem to be really good at pulling the branch back, aiming it at me and then letting go./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

I'm with you, I think I'll just wear the chain saw helmet full time.

-david

 

[Tedman]

Add me to the list of statistics. I jumped off the tracks of my JD450C dozer yesterday and landed my foot in a hole. I got back from the doctor this morning and luckly I just got by with a badly sprained ankle. Thankfully it wasn't broken. I will second the opinion that you should get off the way you get on the machine.

 

[Ozarker]

I beleive that if I had a problem with branches slapping me in the head I would use a little woven wire fence to make side panels running from the front to rear ROPS posts.