Others' Safety (Family, helpers...)

trlong · Jul 6, 2005

Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

I'm in a bit of a quandry. Any suggestions how to impress on others (especially wife and daughter) to stay well clear of the CUT would be appreciated.

I have tried to impress on them (especially wife) how fast really bad things can happen to any one near the tractor, not just the operator. I have asked them to read the safety warnings in the manual, read this forum, told them some of the stories from this forum, showed them you can't trust hydraulics to keep equipment or loads lifted, can't trust "parking brakes", how fast the BH boom may swing even when I'm trying to move it slowly,....the list goes on and on. All I get is "Yes, you've said that a thousand times...you worry too much...I'm being carefull...". Yet, while working on my "seeding steep slope" project I had to constantly stop the tractor and yell (nicely) down the hill for them to move off to the sides in the event the tractor some how got away from me and went rolling down the hill.

I love working on the gardens, yard, clearing trails...with my wife but really don't want it to take some thing terrible happening for her to finally understand. BTW, she still has not driven the tractor as I can't get her to read the manual. 1st rule I laid down when I bought it was "No one operates it until having read the manual". Guess I'm just "retentive" that way.

Tom

Gatorboy · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

<font color="blue"> ( Yet, while working on my "seeding steep slope" project I had to constantly stop the tractor and yell (nicely) down the hill for them to move off to the sides in the event the tractor some how got away from me and went rolling down the hill. ) </font>

Just my opinion, but it seems as though your "safety zone" is pretty big. If people are 50' or more away -- unless you are mowing should be far enough.

If you feel they are too close, you may want to just down the tractor and resume when you feel the area is clear.

BoneheadNW · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Tom-

Maybe you could point out to your wife (away from your daughter) what a bad example she is setting for your child. I'm not sure this would help but you could also have her read any of the many tractor accident stories that can be found on the internet. That being said, most people think "It will never happen to me".

To add to your family safety situation, I get the comment from my 9 year old son that "Jimmy's dad up the street lets him ride on his lap when he drives the tractor". I guess I'm just not cool like Jimmy's dad. So be it.

Bonehead

trlong · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Dave,

You are probably right, I may worry too much. However, I have started up (on a bit of a slope), thought I had the HST in low, released the brake and found myself in neutral, headed down the hill in a BIG hurry. My error and I now try a bit of reverse/forward, to assure myself I'm in gear, before fullly releasing the brake.

Tom

trlong · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Bonehead,

Thanks. I hadn't tried that approach (mentioning example she's setting for my daughter). That may help. Can't get her to read any of the safety forum though.

I have a neighbor who takes his 3 and 5 yr. olds on his lap on his ATV, all over rough terrain around here. He wanted to let them sit on my tractor, maybe take a ride with me. I tried to nicely explain I didn't feel it was safe. I didn't make any points with that either. Sorry you're not "Cool" but I'll be more sorry for your neighbor and/or kid if they get hurt.

Tom

wksinatl · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Hey guys,
New member here and just purchased my first tractor. It's a Case 485 w/ FEL. I am learning alot here including SAFETY and also all of the many ways to spend my wife's money on tractor goodies! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The fellow I bought it from is a great guy who was concerned enough for my safety he emailed me a couple of sites about tractor accidents. The incidents are detailed and the pics are VERY GRAPHIC (SO BE WARNED) . I swore I would NEVER give my kids a ride on any tractor (or even a lawn mower) ever again. I sent it to one of my brothers who will let his boys ride on an 8n. His reaction was the same as mine, NEVER AGAIN!".
I know when teaching a youngin' gun safety nothing makes a point like a demo of what a load of 8 shot will do to a watermelon followed up by a explanation.

The pictures are tough and if you don't tear up when you read the fathers story of running over his son with the Bush Hog you have no heart.

Please find a way to make them understand how quickly a good day on the tractor can become a family disaster.

On a lighter note, I love the info I am getting from you guys. I appreciate hearing your experiences/advice!

stay safe,
Keith

http://kea.ae.iastate.edu/mythoughts/Just%20Say%20No.pdf

http://www.aces.edu/farmsafety/Tractor_Machinery.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001701-d001800/d001790/d001790.pdf

kensfarm · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Don't think of it as being "rententive".. just safety oriented.

Hope this helps...

It is especially important to make note of the little things that could save a child s life. The Farm Safety for Just Kids organization offers farm workers and their families tips on how to stay safe.

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids

http://www.fs4jk.org/

Junkman · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Strange thing about this Safety Forum, whenever the subject of letting children use equipment comes up, there are some that defend the topic because they used farm equipment when they were very young. Personally, I wouldn't let any child use a tractor until they were mature enough to know and understand the consequences of a mistake that they might make. To me, you can't impress this on a 8 year old, because his mind set doesn't comprehend the concept of injury or death. I have been down this road of debate in the past, so I won't go down it again.

trlong · Jul 6, 2005

Re: Others\' Safety (Family, helpers...)

Thanks Guys,

I'm busy just printing out some of the stories (some with pic.'s). As I can't get my wife to read them online, or read the manual, I'm going to slip some in the pages of her gardening magazines. Maybe she'll start to get the idea, especially if she actually reads the story of the poor father who ran over his son with the wheel and mower.

Have fun and stay safe.

Tom