PPE for Rotary Cutter use?

[Henro]

Hi,

Something in the safety forum caught my attention and I don't know if I am understanding what people are doing or not.

I realize that something could fly out of my Woods BB60 rotary cutter in any direction, even with the chain guards on it.

This 5' rotary cutter is being pulled by a Kubota B2910. Looking down from the tractor's seat it looks like it would be pretty unlikely for something to fly up and hit me, but I guess it could happen.

What type of PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] do you guys wear, if any, when brush hogging? Do I need to wear something special? I'm /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[F350Lawman]

Only had mine for a few weeks but I have been hit. A piece of wood hit the steering wheel and bounced into my eyes. Good thing I wear saftey glasses.

I think it bounced off my horse fence first. Anything can happen. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[mgrick]

I've never been hit by either one of my brush hogs.Never wear anything special,most of the time(if I remember)I'll put on some safty glasses.If it's hot out I'm out there in shorts and a tank top.But then again it depends on what and where your mowing.


Rick

 

[kensfarm]

My dad was bushhogging one day on an older tractor.. and a stick shot through his high top leather boot.. he was lucky and only got a slice in his leg above his ankle. Those cutters can throw out objects like they were shot from a rifle.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> What type of PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] do you guys wear, if any, when brush hogging? </font>
One time I hit a piece of wood with my Power Trac's front mounted brush cutter. I watched it zing out about 50 feet, turn around like a boomerang and come right back at me. I was thinking... wow, I'm glad I'm not over there, hey wait a second, it's comming back at me, oh no!!! Well, it landed about 10-15 feet in front of me, so I ran it over for spite /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have had a few things shoot out of my rear mounted brush hog on my IH2500b, hit a tree and bounce back. I wear heavy denim clothes, a hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy shoes and gloves usually(exept when making documentary brush hog movies /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) I'm thinking of getting the full face shield for chainsawing and will wear that when brush hogging, too. Better safe, than sorry, yes? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Whiskey]

Henro:

I buzzed through the post and didn't see this so I'll plop it out there.

Most of the local and state owned mowing tractors I see on the road side have expanded metal welded or bolted to mounts on the ROPS or some sort of clear plastic bolted there, only one problem I see is none of these tractors have foldable ROPS and if I remember right both of your tractors do and this will most likely leave your head in the danger zone.

PS: After rereading that I spose you could make it in two chunks one for the top and one for the bottom and when the ROPS is up less than a 1/4" gap would be there????

Whiskey

 

[slowrev]

Rotary cutters are safest ( to the operator) when pulled behind an armored personnel carrier or Abrams tank /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Seriousley though, I don't know of any way to fully protect against ricochets and the like from cutter debris. Full cabs are nice, but the glass breaks. Of course the AC is nice /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> Full cabs are nice, but the glass breaks. </font>

You got that right. Every piece of glass in the cab of my IH is cracked from branches in the woods. I was thinking of removing all the glass and replacing it with expanded metal. I could than make clear vinyl curtains inside for the winter that woudl roll up and velcro to the inside of the roof in summer.

 

[slowrev]

Lexan is tough stuff, it does get scratched and difficult to see thru though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Currmudgeon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( it bugged me how people kept fueling her anger and then ripping into her.)</font>

That makes a lot of sense. The mesh screen doesn't fog up like safety glasses.