Farmer killed bailing hay.

[kensfarm]

A farmer that did some round bales for me this Wed. went to school w/ this guy.. the tractor & baler were running.

Kenneth F. Spielman, 65, of Union Bridge died Tuesday after he became trapped between his farm tractor and the attached round bailer.

According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Spielman, of Fountain School Road in Union Bridge, became trapped while attempting to free a clog in the bailer.

The Libertytown Fire Company responded to the Spielman farm shortly after receiving the emergency call at 7:35 p.m. Upon arrival, rescuers found Spielman had already died at the scene, police said.

 

[goodoleboy]

Ive heard of people Being "sucked" into those things. Farmer up here got sucked arms first. Well he managed to survive by wrapping his legs around the tounge or some part of the bailer until someone could turn it off.
His wife finally found him ten minutes later, he is alive but has no arms.

 

[JoeR]

My neighbor lost his right hand between the wrist and elbow. He was running a chopper when it jammed. He turned the machine off, opened the access panel, reached in, and the blades made one more rotation. He said it seemed like the blades stopped, but was at the top when the weight of the blade caused it to make one more rotation. He had to file a lawsuit against his Father's company in order to get compensation so he could get trained in another career field. Sad story... Farming can be a dangerous profession...

 

[slowrev]

Unclogging running machinery is VERY dangerous. I know of 3 men who have lost parts unclogging running corn pickers.....
Alsways shut down and set brakes, etc...

 

[HuckBB62]

Is there any reason a stick or tool couldn't be used to unclog machinery instead of hands and feet?

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is there any reason a stick or tool couldn't be used to unclog machinery instead of hands and feet? )</font>

Now understand I'm not making excuses, or trying to justify what happened, but here's what USUALLY happens.

No tools are handy.... There isn't any sticks out in a hayfield.... You've done it a thousand times.... Just grab the clog and pull it free....

You wake up in intensive care, without any arms...... (or worse)

It happens far too often.

I live near one of the foremost hand surgeons in the country. He happens to be a farmer ALSO.... His connection with farming and hand surgery is more than coincidence.

My dad used to say, "It's amazing how much time is lost because of someone being in a hurry".

SLOW DOWN....BE SAFE

 

[kensfarm]

Well guys found out a little more information: Seems it wasn't the bailer that got him.

Upon arriving at the farm.. the person saw the JD tractor running in reverse w/ the tires digging up dirt. The bailer was jackknifed sideways on an uphill slope.. and the farmer was caught between the tractor & bailer.

They actually had a write-up in the Washington Post about the farmers hard life.. how he struggled to keep the farm. He had just retired from dairy farming.. had a bday & 45th wedding anniversary he would have celebrated this month.