Over The Shoulder Restraints vs Seat Belts

[nimblemotors]

So I'm thinking of a rollbar on my TLB, and frankly they are not very effective unless you are using a seat belt. Seat belts seem like trouble, the belts go bad out in the sun quickly, and a TLB is outside.

I'm thinking what would be a heck of a lot better is using a over-the-shoulder restraint bar, like they use on amusement rides. Just pull it down to lock in,
and lift it up to get out. Easy, and won't be bothered by the weather.

Anyone seen it done?

 

[creekbend]

My thoughts lean more toward the negative side. I would think that such an installation would be cumbersome and an individual's movement would somewhat be more restricted. Another possibility might remain regarding safety issues of a different kind. Releasing a seat belt if your tractor is lying on its side or upside down in a gully, is not that difficult. If worse comes to worse, you can cut yourself loose using a knife. But what if you are in an accident similar to the ones previously mentioned, will the possibility of an easy escape still remain by using the safety measure that you stated? Just my thoughts.:tractor:

 

[beppington]

Please halt this topic at once.

I'm afraid the BBSP (big brother safety police) will catch wind of it, & with strong "encouragement" from insurance companies, these will become mandatory.

 

[nimblemotors]

I don't think it would be cumbersome at all, unless it were tight, which I don't think is needed to keep you from flying off. If loose enough, you could even wriggle out in the worst case that it couldn't be unlatched. The rollbar should prevent it from holding it closed.

My thoughts lean more toward the negative side. I would think that such an installation would be cumbersome and an individual's movement would somewhat be more restricted. Another possibility might remain regarding safety issues of a different kind. Releasing a seat belt if your tractor is lying on its side or upside down in a gully, is not that difficult. If worse comes to worse, you can cut yourself loose using a knife. But what if you are in an accident similar to the ones previously mentioned, will the possibility of an easy escape still remain by using the safety measure that you stated? Just my thoughts.:tractor:

 

[ruren]

I don't think it would be cumbersome at all, unless it were tight, which I don't think is needed to keep you from flying off. If loose enough, you could even wriggle out in the worst case that it couldn't be unlatched. The rollbar should prevent it from holding it closed.

I think you would have a hard time coming up with a system that really holds you safely in position in a roll over. My skidsteer has an over the shoulder and across your lap bar that you have to pull down to release the controls. The labels all make it very clear that it will not hold you in place in an accident and you need to buckle your seat belt also.

 

[nimblemotors]

interesting, so they are already being used. I don't see how it would not be enough to keep you in a skidsteer, you are surrounded in one of those, they only way out is forward right?

I think you would have a hard time coming up with a system that really holds you safely in position in a roll over. My skidsteer has an over the shoulder and across your lap bar that you have to pull down to release the controls. The labels all make it very clear that it will not hold you in place in an accident and you need to buckle your seat belt also.

 

[creekbend]

I don't think it would be cumbersome at all, unless it were tight, which I don't think is needed to keep you from flying off. If loose enough, you could even wriggle out in the worst case that it couldn't be unlatched. The rollbar should prevent it from holding it closed.

Have you considered this? Seat belts are adjustable and thus provide a safety measure for different Body forms. They will normally fit most people. This includes smaller people with smaller frames and larger people with larger frames. Does the device that you are suggesting as an alternative safety option, employ consideration in finding a plausible solution to this possible problem. Also of interest, would the device get in the way when released, when the operator finds the need to turn around and tend to controls on the sides or back area of the tractor's seat? These are the possibilities that I considered in my suggestion in regards to being "cumbersome".

 

[Gary Fowler]

I cant see that kind of system working at all on an open station tractor. My tractor has a cab and I have to admit that I never use the seat belt but I can see where I would have a lot of knots on my head if I had a roll over. I cant use the belt and still look back since I cant rotate my neck so I have to turn in the seat to see behind me. I use the mirrors but they dont show me my implement. I am takeing a chance on bouncing around the cab if it goes over and I have to live with that. On an open station, if you had some kind of over the shoulder bar loose enough to have freedom to move and especially loose enough to wriggle out, you would for sure fall out in a roll over. If you can use the belt, stay with that. Replacing a $50 belt every few years is cheap insurance against being thrown out and rolled over by the tractor.

You seem pretty mindset on putting this system on, so if you think it will work for you, go for it. It would for sure be better than not putting on the belt. Let us know how many knots you get on your head from hitting it when mounting the tractor.

 

[ruren]

As I said, it is there to lock the controls, not as a restraint. When you lift it to get out it locks out the foot pedals and levers, then you lower it when you sit down again and push a button to release the controls. You wouldn't want to step on a foot pedal and raise the loader while you are climbing in...

The reason I mentioned it is that the manufacturer is very specific that even though it looks like it would hold you in, they still provide a seat belt and recommend you wear it. Since it is rigid and doesn't conform to your body I would assume you could slide out from under it in a tip or roll over. I would think to make it restrictive enough you couldn't come loose would restrict your movement too much to operate the controls, turn to look behind you, etc.

interesting, so they are already being used. I don't see how it would not be enough to keep you in a skidsteer, you are surrounded in one of those, they only way out is forward right?

 

[JDgreen227]

So I'm thinking of a rollbar on my TLB, and frankly they are not very effective unless you are using a seat belt. Seat belts seem like trouble, the belts go bad out in the sun quickly, and a TLB is outside.

I'm thinking what would be a heck of a lot better is using a over-the-shoulder restraint bar, like they use on amusement rides. Just pull it down to lock in,
and lift it up to get out. Easy, and won't be bothered by the weather.

Anyone seen it done?

Sorry for being late in a response to this...I bypassed this thread numerous times, thinking the concept you were proposing would be like the fabric lap/shoulder belts used in cars and trucks.

You do have a very original idea, and I applaud your thinking. Seems to me it would provide an additional safety factor as well as being more durable in the weather than a standard lap belt, YET, I see the opposing viewpoints about it being cumbersome.

Just curious, about your statement regarding weathering of seat belts, on my Deere 4210, the canvas part of the belt is rolled up into a retractor when it is not being worn. I never leave my tractor outside, but I don't think weathering would be that much of an issue if the belt assemblies are like mine. Might be a dumb query, but does anybody here know what the standards for tractor seat belts might be as compared to car belts? Seems to me the car belts would have to carry a much higher break strength because of the additional stress imposed on them by higher speeds.