Mowing Death

[Henro]

Reading some of the above posts I could not help but remember what the financial guys say: Past performance is no guarantee of future results...

So using examples of how past irresponsible behavior resulted in no damage, to imply that such behavior is acceptable now and in the future, is really a fallacy. We all have gotten away with stupid things in our lives. The ones that did not had their voices silenced.

Use common sense and stay safe...

 

[Cruiserdog]

I’m a retired safety engineer and I’ve seen a lot of seriously stupid things being done. Safety is nothing more than commonsense, however the problem with common sense is that it’s not very common. Tractors and farm equipment are, by their nature, heavy equipment with dangerous moving parts. The moment you forget that for a second you are asking for trouble. The classic I see all the time is the guy with a folded ROPS working a piece of equipment. It’s on there for a reason. Can you fold it ? Sure. SHOULD you? Absolutely not. Kids (and pets) have no business whatsoever around operating equipment UNTIL they are old enough/mature enough to be Taught how to safely operate it AND what the hazards are.

 

[k0ua]

I’m a retired safety engineer and I’ve seen a lot of seriously stupid things being done. Safety is nothing more than commonsense, however the problem with common sense is that it’s not very common. Tractors and farm equipment are, by their nature, heavy equipment with dangerous moving parts. The moment you forget that for a second you are asking for trouble. The classic I see all the time is the guy with a folded ROPS working a piece of equipment. It’s on there for a reason. Can you fold it ? Sure. SHOULD you? Absolutely not. Kids (and pets) have no business whatsoever around operating equipment UNTIL they are old enough/mature enough to be Taught how to safely operate it AND what the hazards are.

Yes. And as an old slogan says: Safety is no accident.

By the way, although I was much older learning how to drive an auto, I did some things I was not proud of. Some sheet metal died before I became very safe. Yep, I racked some of them up. Not for many many decades now, but the early years weren't so pretty. Even at 14, I managed to put a pretty serious dent into the fender of the farm truck. I started on the tractor much earlier, had some "near misses". Didn't kill myself or anyone, thankfully.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yes. And as an old slogan says: Safety is no accident.

By the way, although I was much older learning how to drive an auto, I did some things I was not proud of. Some sheet metal died before I became very safe. Yep, I racked some of them up. Not for many many decades now, but the early years weren't so pretty. Even at 14, I managed to put a pretty serious dent into the fender of the farm truck. I started on the tractor much earlier, had some "near misses". Didn't kill myself or anyone, thankfully.

Just an aside; back in 1975 my Driver's Ed instructor told us they found the best drivers they taught were those who, when younger, were allowed to ride their tricycles in the house. Like everything else, the earlier that you teach a kid the better he will be at it.

 

[cqaigy2]

Just an aside; back in 1975 my Driver's Ed instructor told us they found the best drivers they taught were those who, when younger, were allowed to ride their tricycles in the house. Like everything else, the earlier that you teach a kid the better he will be at it.

My mom wouldn't let me ride in the house, but when i took driver's ed in 75 too, my instructor said i was the best driver to come thru to that point. I told him 'that's because i've been driving for years'. I got a double take from him and explained i'd started driving when i was old enough to slide off the seat, stand up, holding on to the steering wheel of course, and step on the clutch to shift. :laughing:

 

[Jstpssng]

My mom wouldn't let me ride in the house, but when i took driver's ed in 75 too, my instructor said i was the best driver to come thru to that point. I told him 'that's because i've been driving for years'. I got a double take from him and explained i'd started driving when i was old enough to slide off the seat, stand up, holding on to the steering wheel of course, and step on the clutch to shift. :laughing:

A lot of kids learned to drive on an old back road while sitting in their grandparent's lap, which also is a good way to start them out. The problem now is the air bag... if anything does go wrong even a minor accident can injure the kid.

 

[k0ua]

A lot of kids learned to drive on an old back road while sitting in their grandparent's lap, which also is a good way to start them out. The problem now is the air bag... if anything does go wrong even a minor accident can injure the kid.

Not just injure, a kid on the parents lap behind the wheel stands a good risk of death.

 

[DMW]

Not just injure, a kid on the parents lap behind the wheel stands a good risk of death.

Yep.
Toddler killed after falling off lawn mower in Cowlitz Co. | KOMO

 

[k0ua]

Yep.
Toddler killed after falling off lawn mower in Cowlitz Co. | KOMO

Yet so many on these forums espouse the joy of having their small children on their lap as they operate machinery. Can't wrap them in cotton balls. etc. Yeah, just make another one I guess. Can you imagine the horror of that parent? What he is going thru now and for the rest of his life. A stupid preventable accident.

 

[CindyCRNA]

Learned this morning my wife's niece's husband died one of the most gruesome deaths. They are estranged; she hadn't heard from him recently and tried calling. When she couldn't get in touch she drove to the farm to check on him. He had fallen off his tractor and under the rotary cutter. Coroner unable to determine if he had a medical problem (such as a heart attack) that caused him to fall due to damage from the blade. Location is Kingsville, MO. Cannot find any news and niece is understandably very shaken.

I had 80 acres in Kingsville 15 years ago. So sorry for your family's loss. This thread has been a good reminder.