Informal Seatbelt Survey

JerryG · Oct 31, 2005

My neighbour was killed in a tractor roll over last year. 
Not directed at db2, but just for all to think about.
Things like that can happen all to fast. In the name of convenience so many will not use their seat belt and / or will remove their ROPS or leave it down. What is the real cost to their family and loved ones? What is your convenience really worth to your family?

Highbeam · Oct 31, 2005

Life is full of risks. I was quite likely to be killed in an auto accident this morning on my way to work. Should I stay home for fear of death? Some activities carry more risk than others and it is wise to minimize the risk for a given activity within reason. This is why a seatbelt should be worn when significant risk is avoided. Significant to me might be insignificant to you and I can respect that.

MikePA · Oct 31, 2005

This is why a seatbelt should be worn when significant risk is avoided. 
This assumes it is possible to identiify all significant potential risks ahead of time. Even when non-significant risks (sounds like an oxymoron /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ) can be identified and thus justifying no need for ROPS and/or seat belts, I am sure the last thoughts some people had were something like, "I'll try mowing just a little closer to the creek." or "Where'd that gopher hole come frommmmmmmm." /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Mavrik02 · Oct 31, 2005

I always use it. My land is either going up or down (there is no flat) and it actually makes me feel more secure in the seat (like I won't fall out) when I am moving around the yard/woods.

Highbeam · Oct 31, 2005

Or, "I just didn't think that that meteor would fall onto my head" There's a good bit of risk involved anytime you work on a tractor.

Dargo · Oct 31, 2005

You know, this guy was only moving this Branson around to the back of the dealership. He had to drive a short distance down a road, maybe 100 feet, to turn in where he wanted. An older fella in a minivan hit him from the rear and over he went. The kid driving the tractor suffered a badly injured knee and a head injury. He may or may not totally recover. He was about 19 years old.

If he were wearing his seat belt, he most likely would have not had any injury at all. The tractor was fine. If you opt to never wear your seatbelt on a modern tractor with a ROPS, just make sure your will is up to date and your organ donor card.

Oh yeah, no meteor was involved either. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

MikePA · Oct 31, 2005

The odds of running into something unexpected like a gopher hole or a soft spot are not the same as being hit by a meteor. There's a current thread, click here , in the Safety forum about a guy who got too close to a burn pit and rolled his tractor while doing something as 'risk insignificant' as dropping limbs on a burn pile.

Highbeam · Oct 31, 2005

I didn't mean that tractor risks are as rare as a meteor. I was trying to say that there are risks that we can predict and then there are those that are completely bizarre but they all can result in death or injury if you are unlucky that day. It is very difficult to assess the risk for any given tractor job when there are so many freakish or common things that might happen. I live in an area where many people live in serious fear of a huge earthquake or lahar from a volcanic eruption killing them in their sleep. I had to decide pretty early on whether to live in fear of everything or to try and rationalize the odds of these terrible things happening. Tractor work is more likely to kill me than the lahar but I gurantee that there are those that regularly fret over that lahar getting em.

I saw that tractor that tipped into the fire. Dang spooky.

MikePA · Oct 31, 2005

The discussions about ROPS and seat belts reminds me of a recurring conversation I have at work. People do not want to develop any test plans or back out procedures for 'simple changes'. So, I present the following 2 scenarios.

1. Complex changes are tested and tested with all kinds of different use cases. Back out plans are developed and tested in case they're needed. Big changes are tested 'six ways from Sunday'.

2. Simple changes (simple as defined by the person making the change) are not tested and no back out plans are developed.

Which scenario is more likely to cause unrecoverable problems? Answer: Scenario 2.

The same applies to ROPS and seat belts. If people

1. Use them when the risk is obvious
2. Don't use them when the perceived risk is low.

Then under what circumstances are rollovers with injuries more likely to occur? Answer: Scenario 2.

JerryG · Oct 31, 2005

If you opt to never wear your seatbelt on a modern tractor with a ROPS, just make sure your will is up to date and your organ donor card. 
My thoughts exactly.