Is lack of training killing tractor operators?

[davisgary2]

The foot is not terribly painful. Hauling my 60 year old 250 lb. but around on crutches is killing my upper body. I should have pretty good upper body strength soon.

 

[LouNY]

I came extremely close to doing the same a couple of years ago, i was setting up my chain hooks and reinforcing the bucket.
I was not used to the SSQA the other loader tractors I had been using had the global type quick couple you can uncouple them
with the bucket curled partly down and they will just swing on the hooks are's swing and flip right off. I had leaned over the bucket
and pulled the release that bucket swung and dropped and just clipped the toe of my boot, sure got my attention.
Good luck with the foot.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Accidents happen and usually come out of nowhere. Or being preoccupied. Then, there's just those cases of "can't fix stupid" as they say. Sometimes I think, as with driving, teaching laws of physics might be much more useful for preventing accidents.

I saw a youtube video the other day, of a 40hp or so, 2wd tractor doing doughnuts with a bunch of pretty girls sitting on the fenders having a great time. Sometimes it seemed certain the tractor was gonna flip but didn't. I don't even know what to say, to something like that. It seems almost pointless.

 

[Citydude]

The foot is not terribly painful. Hauling my 60 year old 250 lb. but around on crutches is killing my upper body. I should have pretty good upper body strength soon.

Making lemonade out of lemons, I like It!

 

[Wagtail]

I've applied my 'life skills' and past Navy training to my tractor operations and, indeed, everything I do. This is mostly because I am the only one here.

I once took a civilian Material Handling Course (4 days), payed for by Navy; half of which was theory/practical using a forklift. ALL of that training I have transferred (years later) to operating my tractor. Yes, there have still been a few butt-clenching moments but that only hardens my resolve to 'think before I act' and guard against complacency.

I bought a chainsaw (plus chaps & 'forestry' helmet) and waited 'til an experienced mate came out and showed me how to operate & cut with it.

We (on TBN) consistently advise new owners to take things slowly... to take their time and get used to their tractor/implements. Except, it's not just advise to 'Newbies' but to ourselves too.

 

[2458n]

Crutches wear out your armpits. Very few people have the option of going to grandparents farm for the weekend. Setting on the seat in front of grandpa steering the ford 8n was my start at training. When I got bigger standing on the clutch was a big deal. {had to let it back up slowly}. Some of the on my own training was dangerous. Put the clutch down and the bush hog keeps the tractor moving was a real learning example. YES lack of training and can not fix stupid is getting people hurt. Had a great childhood because the 8n was too small to farm with. Grew up with it and still have the farm and tractor today.

 

[MossRoad]

Well I will probably be the cause of a new warning label. I was putting the bucket back on my L3560HSTC saturday. The locking pins were not lined up and I gave the bucket a shove to line them up. The bucket was off and on my foot before I realized what was happening. It's going to be a long 6-8 weeks.
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OUCH! Hope you have a speedy recovery.

One time I was feeling strong, so I picked up my 60" mower deck by the edge, with the thought of tipping it up against the wall so I could easily remove and sharpen the blades. As I tipped it up, and it got to the wall, I realized too late that the reason it was tipping so easily was because it was on its rear wheels. It tipped up against the wall, then the bottom rolled away from the wall and the deck rolled forward onto both of my feet and up against my ankles, then the front slid down along the wall... I was stuck with both my feet under the deck. Fortunately, it was nothing like your injury, in that I only got skinned across the top of both my feet.... I was wearing flip-flops...

I'm sure someone, somewhere in my life told me never to wear flip-flops while working on machinery. I'm sure. It was just one of those "me not thinking things through" moments. Those kind of moments is what gets people hurt.... like not putting on the chainsaw chaps for a couple quick cuts. You know better, but I'd wager a large percentage of people do it anyway.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

coming from a mining background where training was paramount on heavy equipment, the incident/accident rate was higher for employees with 10 years or more experience. Complacency, inattention and running the equipment outside it's designed parameters were the most common factors.

:thumbsup:
This is also true with things like table saw injuries. It's not intuitive so deserves to be reread.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Well I will probably be the cause of a new warning label. I was putting the bucket back on my L3560HSTC saturday. The locking pins were not lined up and I gave the bucket a shove to line them up. The bucket was off and on my foot before I realized what was happening. It's going to be a long 6-8 weeks.
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Well, at least it looks impressive! Often those kind of injuries hurt for a long time with no outward signs. (This makes it much harder to get sympathy from my RN wife.:laughing

 

[plowhog]

Wow- if I keep operating this machinery I need to find a RN wife as well!!

Regarding the comment: “You are a pilot and do not understand CG ?” I believe I do, and am curious that perhaps you do not? But, to be fair, if not, you have a lot of company in the tractor world.

Imagine a long pole under your tractor from side to side. Lift that pole and place the tractor so precisely on it that it balances perfectly and does not pitch forward nor pitch backward. That is the CG point. The side to side pole represents the lateral axis.

Imagine a long pole running under your tractor from back to front. Lift that pole and place the tractor so precisely on it so that it balances perfectly and does not tip left or right. That is the longitudinal axis.

Many confuse a raised bucket with a change to CG and an increased threat. Actually, what is more sinister is that it undermines the stability along the longitudinal axis of the tractor. Making the tractor more tippy side to side. There is only a slight change to the forward/aft CG point, since the bucket travel is mostly up and down, with only a slight amount of change forward and aft. The CG does change slightly, but that is not the problem. It is the longitudinal stability. Even tractor safety "experts" commonly get this wrong.

Imagine a single engine airplane. Now, build a mount so that engine is five feet above where it used to be. With it in that location, the front to rear CG could be balanced, but even a slight bank to the left or right during flight would quickly get exaggerated resulting in likely lost control. That is the same longitudinal instability as the raised bucket.

To create a more legitimate issue with CG using a bucket, you’d need a telehandler. Fill the bucket, keep it the same height off the ground, but extend it forward ten feet. The rear wheels might lift of the ground, since the CG moved forward. But it would not be tippy side to side.

Anyway, the commenter helps make my point. With airplanes, I was provided quality data, including weights, charts, tables to work from, and an instructor to explain how it all fit together. With my tractor, I have far less information in a manual, with no personal instruction to fit it together. The misunderstanding about CG is an indicator of this lack of data or training. I do not advocate regulation. But I do see a very big difference between the training level for operating different, but dangerous equipment.