Another tractor fatality...
- Thread starter rk246
- Start date
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IslandTractor
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2005
- Messages
- 15,802
- Location
- Prudence Island, RI
- Tractor
- 2007 Kioti DK40se HST, Woods BH
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have wondered about the tractor rolling and the fops protecting you only to be speared by some sharp log/stick etc... )</font>
I am sure there are specific instances where seatbelt/rops would be a disadvanatage. However, you have to play the odds here and the odds clearly favor wearing seatbelt/rops. I think the analogy for automobiles would be whether to wear a seat belt when there is a risk that the car might end up in a river with the seat belt preventing escape. Your chances of ending up at the bottom of a river are far lower than being crushed against the steering wheel or thrown from the vehicle in a more typical crash scenario. Safety gear is for risk reduction, risk elimination is not usually possible.
I am sure there are specific instances where seatbelt/rops would be a disadvanatage. However, you have to play the odds here and the odds clearly favor wearing seatbelt/rops. I think the analogy for automobiles would be whether to wear a seat belt when there is a risk that the car might end up in a river with the seat belt preventing escape. Your chances of ending up at the bottom of a river are far lower than being crushed against the steering wheel or thrown from the vehicle in a more typical crash scenario. Safety gear is for risk reduction, risk elimination is not usually possible.
CT_Tree_Guy
Platinum Member
Roger - I would have replied sooner to your eloquent and moving post, except that it moved me a little too much and I just couldn't respond to it right away.
That sad, sad story is repeated around two hundred and fifty times every year in the US. Two hundred and fifty fine men or women are killed, two hundred and fifty families are torn apart, over five hundred children just lost their mom or dad, and thousands of friends and relatives are left grieving, with an unfillable hole in their hearts and lives.
Sit down, buckle up, start engine.
That sad, sad story is repeated around two hundred and fifty times every year in the US. Two hundred and fifty fine men or women are killed, two hundred and fifty families are torn apart, over five hundred children just lost their mom or dad, and thousands of friends and relatives are left grieving, with an unfillable hole in their hearts and lives.
Sit down, buckle up, start engine.
BruceNorthEast
Bronze Member
I was reading of a skid steer fatal accident recently.
There was a crew working at a development and one guy in the tractor/skid-steer. The protective fencing on the sides was removed and the people reconstructing the accident believe that the driver saw/heard the hydraulic fluid spray when it tore open on a stump and he stuck his head out to get a better look, he didn't get it back in time - the loader arms now moving because of the damaged line caused massive head trauma.
I've had many close calls in life, several my own fault because I either didn't think or was in too much of a hurry, or simply too lazy to be careful. I try to catch myself now, and remind myself not to let laziness make me careless. Now all I need is self discipline...
Bruce.
There was a crew working at a development and one guy in the tractor/skid-steer. The protective fencing on the sides was removed and the people reconstructing the accident believe that the driver saw/heard the hydraulic fluid spray when it tore open on a stump and he stuck his head out to get a better look, he didn't get it back in time - the loader arms now moving because of the damaged line caused massive head trauma.
I've had many close calls in life, several my own fault because I either didn't think or was in too much of a hurry, or simply too lazy to be careful. I try to catch myself now, and remind myself not to let laziness make me careless. Now all I need is self discipline...
Bruce.
I think fatigue also often plays a large role. In my job we end up being up a lot in the middle of the night. They say being up 24 hours straight is the equivalent to being legally intoxicated, I believe it, I know my mind is not always straight when I have been up all night on calls and am very tired... Unfortanately I always feel the need to get stuff done and perform the tasks I want to do around my place when I get home, probably not always the smartest thing to do...
Buckie2
New member
This post subject is near and dear to my heart. The near misses, dumb moments and "almost" accidents on a tractor should be enough to scare the pants off just about any of us. I came within about a foot of driving my tractor off the edge of a bridge embankment that had no railing. I was listening to the radio with headphones, drinking Gatorade and generally paying no attention. The ONLY reason I am alive today is the right front tire hit and bounced off a very large rock that was the last barrier between me and a 30' ravine. I jerked the wheel less than 12 inches from the drop off.
Stupid does not begin to describe how I felt! Shook me up badly.
Thanks to everyone for reminding us that these tractors are just like guns......only as safe as the shooter, only as safe as the driver.
buckie
Stupid does not begin to describe how I felt! Shook me up badly.
Thanks to everyone for reminding us that these tractors are just like guns......only as safe as the shooter, only as safe as the driver.
buckie
JasonMac
Gold Member
One of my schoolmates got killed by PTO Entanglement. She was only 13 years old , I was 12. She was a farmgirl, But I remember it like yesterday, she reached for the pto lever to shut the machine off for her father, instead of getting on the tractor, and before her father could stop her, Her pull strings from her jacket yanked her in... It was til this day the saddest and most horrific death we've ever had in this town. She was a great girl that everybody loved.
