Eye, Ear, Nose and ....

riptides · Jun 29, 2017

I just came in from mowing, my friend proceeded to get quite a laugh out of my protective apparel. He of the cab tractor brethren, and non-compact at that. Anyway, he commented that I seem to be extreme in my contraptions. I don't consider it extreme at all, wearing full googles, with a nose and mouth dust mask, hearing protection all under a hat of choice. I use to wear just googles, with hearing protection (I use my shooting ear gear) when operating certain pieces. This time of year, the airways get the dust mask. It's a name brand, roots in the ATV world.

Do you all engage in safety apparel for the job, based on conditions and equipment your running? Especially yard and field work?

I think what got him was my dust mask. And like I said, he sits in an A/C cab while he is here. I am the guy in the hay wagon. LOL.

scdeerslayer · Jun 29, 2017

Dust mask when mowing or disking so I'm not stopped up the next week. Don't worry about it if it's wet. Radio earmuffs when doing any fieldwork. With the new Kubota that's not as necessary as with the older tractors but blocking a lot of the noise and having the radio is nice. Sunglasses if it's bright enough. Baseball cap.

Thomas · Jun 29, 2017

Such task as your doing yes,but just puttering on/off tractor not as much.
Did you show your friend the outside of the dusk when you were done.

Wagtail · Jun 29, 2017

You're not being 'extreme' at all, Mate.

I don't have a cab either and I always wear a hat, sunnies and ear defenders, at a minimum. The job can dictate any extra PPE, such as a dust-mask when stacking rounds of hay inside a shed or tilling. I always wear long sleeve shirts & trousers + boots, especially in Summer due to the extreme UV rays down here (my black ballcap is now grey!). I have spare ear defenders for anyone who may be working around my tractor too.

jimjumper · Jun 29, 2017

If you have an old 2 cylinder Yanmar, you won't forget that hearing protection! They don't call them Yammer hammers for nothing...

brown40 · Jun 30, 2017

I always wear a hat, I'm pretty good about using gloves on account of lots of tractor stuff is edged and abraded steel (Working becomes unpleasant with fresh damage); if I'm running the PTO (mowing, tilling, chipping, splitting) or know I'm on an extended job then for sure I wear do hearing protection.
I should be more diligent about eyewear (wear prescription glasses so hard to have comfort and clarity). I always gear up feeding the chipper, but blink in and digest a lot of airbornes when I mow.
I think if you can use respiratory protection its the best practice--hats off to you!
Cabbers are in a different world--my friend plows his drive with the heat blasting in a t-shirt listening to sirius on bluetooth... I wear three layers under raingear and shooting muffs to help keep my ears warm and have to beat the numbness out of my fingers.
Of course I bushhog trails, cut wood and do other activities that would doom a cab.
Your friends cab is taking care of his UV, hearing, eye protection and climate control.

N2DFire · Jun 30, 2017

Always Gloves, Hat (mostly a full brim style but sometimes just a ball cap), and sun glasses that are ANSI impact rated. Even if I'm the guy on the ground and Dad's on the tractor.

Hearing protection depends on the job. If I'm working alone and/or will be at a continuous throttle setting (monotonous drone) - like mowing - I'll add hearing protection. If I'm working with someone on the ground I want to be able to hear them just in case I get in a position I can't see them.

Respiratory I haven't really bothered with but after a bout of grappling up moldy hay and then being sick for three weeks (I already have "environmental allergies" to begin with) - I think I'll look into it.

Having had over 27 years in Fire/EMS in a rural farming community I can tell you first hand that bad stuff happens fast & when you least expect it & the best outcome is when you're geared up & prepared for it before it happens.

Stay safe everybody.

plowhog · Jun 30, 2017

Very smart to use the gear. This week I was weed eating my ditches wearing a hat, clear plastic goggles, and ear plugs. At some point a noxious weed part flew into my mouth and lodged in the back of my throat. I immediately started coughing so hard and for so long I wondered if I would need to go to the ER or if I would even make it to the ER. Dust mask is my new addition when weed eating. Not sure if it was star thistle or what, it was a bad experience.

JRobyn · Jun 30, 2017

This thread got me to wondering, along with the occasional thread about overheating due to the "chaff" in the radiator when mowing; how does one keep the cab AC working when the condenser coil (and evaporator) is plugged with the same chaff?? I assume they also have screens/filters?