Safety Tips

[Soundguy]

Re: Safety Tips- In a blink of an eye you are DEAD

My rotary cutter uses my standard tractor toplink, but does have a 4" swivel for play... and the top frame of the cutter is 4 sepperate metal bars... I'm fairly certain if my 1920 went over, if the cutter didn't sacrifice itself and outright stop my rollover, I am certain that it would delay it significantly.

there is quite a bit of metal on my cutter.. course my 1920 has a rops anyway.... but the 8n doesn't...( guess which one I cut with /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Safety Tips- In a blink of an eye you are DEAD

I guess I should have been more specific. I use a standard top link to go from the tractor to the A frame on the brush hog. The side legs of the A frame are just bolted to the frame of the brush hog. There is a 1 foot length of chain connected to a steel strap that comes from the top of the A frame down to near where the rear tire of the brush hog connects. If this were not there, the brush hog couldn't float up and down at all. If the tractor were to go over backwards, the toplink would be fine, but the A frame would fold backwards and the chain/strap would just collapse. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif If I get a chance, I'll take a picture of it, because I've already spent my thousand words /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Safety Tips- In a blink of an eye you are DEAD

Ahh.. I see hat you are saying. You cutter has a much different setup than mine. On mine, I've got the a-frame which attatches to a swivel ( ushaped 4" peice of metal ) that then attatches to my tractor toplink.... this is where my system gets its play.. ( this was a stock item on the cutter ).
On mine though, from the a-frame back are two solid struts.. no play there.

Soundguy

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: Safety Tips- Brush Hogging with hidden hazards

Case Report: 02NY023

Steep hidden bank of occurrence

“…On Tuesday, April 16th, 2002, a 72-year-old part-time farmer died as a result of a tractor overturn. The victim had been brush-hogging the outer edge of a pasture when the tractor was driven onto an embankment that gave way, causing the tractor to roll over. The tractor rolled down the embankment, crushing the operator during the initial 180 degrees of rolling. His brother, who heard the crashing sound of the tractor rolling down the embankment, discovered the victim soon after and had someone call the emergency squad, which responded within minutes. The county coroner was called and pronounced the victim dead at the scene… “

“…The victim had been involved in agricultural work his entire life…

…As he turned to the right, the right side of his tractor came dangerously close to a thirty-five foot drop embankment that descended at a 75 degree angle…

…There was no rollover protective structure on the tractor…

…Upon overturn and contact with the ground, the operator's chest and back were crushed between the fender of the tractor and the ground…”


The rest of the tragic story…

 

[19th_VA]

Re: Safety Tips- Brush Hogging with hidden hazards

Thanks for sharing these JMIII. Though tragic, they make us all think about how much we value our own lives, and those who we love. Amazingly, I still read regularly about why people don't buckle up and leave the ROPS up. It CAN happen to you.

 

[agcomike]

Re: Safety Tips- Brush Hogging with hidden hazards

I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on a piece of land i have to mow..

It's probaly in the 20-30 degree area you can't mow side ways.. the problem is it dead ends at the top by a fence and trees. making it difficult to turn around and go back down without having the tractor on a good bit of angle..

I've leveled a area about 8' at top to a lessen the angle but anyone have some ideas on mowing this area more safely?

 

[Bird]

Re: Safety Tips- Brush Hogging with hidden hazards

I don't know how big an area you're talking about mowing, but I mowed tank dams by backing up the slope, coming down forward, back up again, etc. without ever turning the tractor around. That worked fine for me, but might be pretty slow if you're talking about a large area to mow.

 

[JerryG]

Re: Safety Tips- Brush Hogging with hidden hazards

I do just what Bird does. Back up then cut on the way down. You can cut a lot steeper bank by doing it this way and it's a lot safer. Don't take a chance, if it is to steep to turn around on don't. It's not worth it.

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: Safety Tips-Tractor/PTO Safety Quiz

Tractor/PTO Safety Quiz

1. Most rollovers occur to the rear rather than to the side or front?
True or False?
True
False


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2. Rollover protection devices are interchangeable and can be fabricated by any farm shop.
True or false?
True
False


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3. Which of the following are factors in tractor rollovers?
A. speed on level ground
B. hydraulic fluid levels
C. direction of PTO rotation
D. all of the above


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4.Which of the following is effective in preventing PTO injuries?
A. shutting off the PTO before making adjustments
B. wearing tight fitting clothing while working around the PTO
C. walking around the implement rather than stepping over the PTO
D. all of the above


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5.Which of the following is not important in preventing tractor overturns?
A. use of ROPs and a seatbelt
B. driving at slow speeds while cornering or on rough ground
C. avoiding steep hills
D. all of the above


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6.You are driving a tractor on a paved highway. When you turn around to look at the disc you are pulling you inadvertently steer the tractor to the right. The tractor goes off the right edge of the pavement and starts down the steep ditch. You should:
A. hit the brakes and stop as rapidly as possible
B. steer quickly to the left to get back onto the road
C. slow the engine down and steer towards the bottom of the ditch


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7. When mounted on a tractor, a front end loader will move the tractor's center of gravity forward. This will:
A. make the tractor more likely to roll over sideways
B. make the tractor less likely to tip over backwards
C. both A and B


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8. The following practices can help to prevent over the road accidents:
A. lock brakes together when driving at transport speeds
B. post and SMV emblem on the tractor and implement
C. shift to a lower gear when going down a hill
D. all of the above


Tractor/PTO Safety Quiz-scored...

Detailed Answers to Tractor Quiz…

Tractor Safety Powerpoint Presentation

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Safety Tips-Tractor/PTO Safety Quiz

Good quiz, John. I missed #1 and #7. Makes me think. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[OverlyRun]

Re: Safety Tips- Most Viewed Post?

At 7500+ views, John Miller's post must be one the most widely read on TBN, and John, thank you for keeping us always thinking about safety. (or are some just interested in rubbernecking on close calls that got too close?)

Are others like me though? When I first got the tractor I read the safety posts every time I logged on. Now it's only an occasional look. I hope that I am every bit as alert when I am using the tractor, and in any event not sure that reading posts translates into safe operation. But a few pictures or a story are good complacency insurance!

Chas

PS I scored 6 out of 7. Figured #1 must be a trick question.

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

Death on a Tractor…

“Tractor rollover accidents are the largest cause of tractor related deaths."

"There is no scientific excuse for the persistence of this problem. This is something we know how to prevent." The key to surviving tractor rollover accidents is using ROPS with seat belts.”

“Several studies have been performed to determine the effectiveness of rollover protective structures. A joint study by the University of Iowa and Iowa State University found that tractor operators protected by ROPS survive 95% of the time in rollover accidents. This same study also found that operators on tractors without ROPS and seatbelts survive rollover accidents only 25% of the time.”

” The statistics show that tractor rollover accidents frequently occur, and that without a rollover protective structure, chances are the operator will not survive a rollover. If the tractor is equipped with a ROPS and the operator is using a seatbelt, the chances are that the operator will walk away from a rollover accident.”

Tractor Rollovers & Brief History of ROPS…

“The National Safety Council (NSC) has estimated that about 200 deaths result from agricultural tractor overturns each year (NSC, 1997). Murphy and Yoder (1998) estimated that these deaths account for more than one-third of all production agriculture-related fatalities in the United States. A ROPS in combination with a seatbelt can prevent nearly all tractor overturn-related fatalities and serious injuries (CDC, 1993). ROPS are sturdy frames attached to tractors or built into tractor cabs. They protect the operator from being crushed if the tractor overturns. Seatbelts are used in combination with the ROPS to keep the operator within a protective “zone.””

“Human beings are not very good at assessing risk. This includes farmers who often worry most about the wrong danger. This puts them at risk in their work and makes it less likely they will avoid the most common farm accidents.

A study in Iowa indicated that farmers thought the most hazardous part of their work was handling insecticides and they perceived tractors as the least hazardous. Yet for those reporting having had an accident, farm machinery was the number one item involved, with tractors being fourth,. No acute accidents involving insecticides were reported. “

No one deliberately tries to roll his tractor over, yet approximately half of all deaths by tractor each year are the result of overturns. ...

“The biggest killers are tractors with more than half the deaths the result of tractor accidents, according to OSHA. Over half of those, 57 percent, are the result of rollovers, another 9 percent are the result of people either falling off the tractor and/or getting run over”

“Tractors used in farm work continue to dominate the list of agricultural related deaths. Every tractor in this five year-review of injuries resulting in death were without a ROPS(Roll Over Protective System).

The average half life of a tractor is estimated to be 16 to 19 years. This means that we still have tractors being used on the farm, usually in a utility function, job, that are 30 or 40 years old.”

Do you have a seat belt on your tractor?... Please use it...

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TRACTOR SAFETY

 

[Egon]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

John:

No acute accidents involving insecticides were reported. ?

The dangers of these and other chemicals including dust usually appear years later. The farmers may know of what they talk.

I fully agree on ROPS and seat belts. My idea of a ROPS is a cage for full protection like is seen on large yellow construction equipment. The single bar type will work well as long as the tractor is not operating in trees or areas where there are many large rocks.

Please note: My first car did not come with seatbelts. I had some installed immediately. This was long before seat belts were mandatory on vehicles.

Egon

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

Yep.. given the choice of ROPS or FOPS ( falling objects protective structure.. I prefer FOPS. If I get another tractor, I want it bigger than my 1920.. and am looking for one with FOPS... I think it would also be safer in those areas where people are afraid of ROPS and trees.. I.e. being crushed after sliding into a tree in a side roll... FOPS would be awesome there..

Soundguy

 

[garchib]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

<font color="blue"> John Miller wrote: "
Why do people still insist on letting their precious children ride on their lap or the fender of a tractor…?

In your car, you wouldn’t think of driving down the freeway @ 75 mph with a child sitting in your lap, helping you steer… they’d arrest you, put you in jail, and throw away the key…

So why do it with a more dangerous vehicle like a riding lawn mower or compact tractor…?

Please don’t take your children for a tractor ride…
Folks… it’s not fun… it’s just plain stupid and asinine…"</font>

<font color="black"> ....while I agree with you that it is "asinine" to be
bush hogging with a kid on your fender, what is wrong with a slow
ride through your flat field with your son buckled in with you on your lap !? I am not trying to be confrontational, as this thread is very informative, but I think we need to be careful of broad generalizations. While I appreciate the fact that people should try to avoid risks
to their children, judgement is the key in this equation. One thing
our society has too much of is "watch-dogs" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

BTW, about a couple of years ago, one of my sons needed his diaper
changed right as we were leaving a restaurant. Rather than go back in,
we decided to use the inside of car trunk, which is very clean, to set him down and change his diaper. While we are doing this, a lady walks
up to us and says "you are not going to put that baby in the trunk are you !?" Thank goodness for knuckleheads like her in our society, at least they keep us smiling /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

I can remember back when I was about 4 years old, standing on the left running board of my pepaw's ( we called grandad pepaw then.. ) old ford 2000.. holding on to the fender, his hand on my belt.. we would ride down the road from there house to his garden a couple miles away, and then he would disc or till, or hog for a few hours while I ran around and chased frogs and looked for rocks and bugs.. etc...

I guess things have just changed now...

Soundguy

 

[fivestring]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

I don't think things have changed as much as people have. To keep up with the Joneses, people don't think things thru anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Things get done half-[censored]. Common sense needs a comeback. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif You can still ride the tractor like you did, but today, the parent or grandparent has too many things on their mind, so they don't hold on to the child, or use L2 range, etc. Accidents happened then, too; maybe more so as more folks farmed and used tractors. They just weren't documented/sensationalized like they are nowadays. Common sense. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif If I worried about everything that could go wrong, I wouldn't drive a car, fly, ski, cut grass, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Just plain old common sense.
my .02 on that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[garchib]

Re: Safety Tips-Death on a Tractor...

Amen to that Gary /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif