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.

 

[soarkrebel]

Funny you posted this cause i started a screen for my tractor last year and am fixing to try and finish it.
It's a expanded metal covered square that will attach to the ROPS. i have already built the brackets that attach the ROPS but i haven't decided exactly how it will attach.

i want it to be removeable so i will probably make it with bolts that hold it to the bracket.

And another problem is that i got this idea to make a roof and side screens .

You know a project just seems to grow the more that i think about it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

WHEN ?? i get it done i will get some pictures and show it off .

 

[Henro]

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

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

OK, I gotta ask...where did the "it bugged me..." come from? I reread the thread...don't seem to see it...probably blind at this end... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[F350Lawman]

Improper use of "cut and paste function"

That can be embarrassing /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[GreenMtnMan]

I thought it was just me that was confused /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Glad somebody spoke up!

 

[F350Lawman]

Good thing he wasn't just on "www.LoveConnection.com'! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

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

Me too!

(Uh, I guess /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

 

[cisco]

I've got the "big brother" of your brush cutter, the BB600. It can, and does, throw stuff, especially pieces of tree limbs and rocks (I try not to hit rocks, but ---). A local farmer actually managed to mangle the leg of a dog, who was happily trailing his tractor when debris was thrown by the brush cutter (wasn't his dog, and you don't want to hear about the feud such started).
I haven't been hit hard with anything, yet - that said, I wear glasses, a cap, boots, long pants and gloves (plus hearing protection and sunscreen - yes, I can get hot in the summer, so opt for a short sleeve shirt). Scariest piece of equipment I've got is not the brush cutter, but the post hole digger. If one gets caught up (jacket sleeve, etc) in such, you're toast unless someone else can stop the rotation, pronto - never use it without another tractor savvy person present, or if not then stay on the tractor seat until the hole is dug and the digger is shut off.

 

[Slippy]

If I am doing trail work where there is the greatest chance of throwing something, I am usually also running chain saw, etc. I wear hard hat, ear protection, safety glasses, chain saw paints, and gloves. I always wear ear protection and safety glasses.

 

[Currmudgeon]

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

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


OK, I gotta ask...where did the "it bugged me..." come from? )</font>

Sorry 'bout that. It was a reply from another board, left in my clipboard.

I was probably suffering from an excess of blood in the caffein stream.