SAFETY WARNING: Using Loader to Lift with Chains

[MChalkley]

Ian - As a follow-up to the half-pipe idea, I've never seen this done, but I'll bet a much easier solution would be to take a correctly sized piece of angle-iron (or even u-channel if you're paranoid) and cut it to the right length. If you were really paranoid about it, you could even take a piece of rope and tie it so it wouldn't fall off even if it slipped around the underside of the rod, though it's not going anywhere once you lower the loader on it. Sure beats trying to hold it up with your head...

MarkC

 

[jgh]

10/7

My dog just arrived for this one.

On the CN 7 mil suit...

It may not be fair, but in states like Virginia where Mark Chalkley & I live, contributory negligence (like the horseplay & drinking by the plaintiffs in that case) would have probably made it difficult for them to get more than 15 minutes in an attorney's office.

The legal theory is that one should not recover damages if they contributed in any measureable way (ie, if they could have possibly avoided the accident or lessened their damage) to their own trouble, no recovery! Some cases have been decided against plaintiffs where the % of contributory negligence was 5 or even as low as 1.

[I may not be 100% on all the above since I am no lawyer] Harsh.

J

 

[jgh]

10/7

Bad Harv.

Humor on here should be FARM, not PHARM. I guess it did no...harm.

J

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gifx10

 

[Mike H]

Regarding chains having no elasticity: Nah. Chain will stretch as soon as it's loaded. The key is that the amount it stretches is generally miniscule compared to something less stiff (e.g. cable).

On a somewhat related note, the stiffness of the chain is not appreciably affected by the grade (G43, G70, etc.). All steels have nearly the same modulus of elasticity. The difference in the grades is strength. How much energy is stored in the spring doesn't matter if it doesn't break. There is a tremendous difference in strength between the grades.

 

[jgh]

10/7

The manual for my Alo/Quicke model 920 loader makes no reference to chains, lifting, etc. No warning labels that I can find refer to same.

One interesting side note. The manual states it is safe to work under the loader if the shutoff valve is closed, disabling the joy stick and locking fluid in the lines. I find this interesting since a line could still rupture and let the bucket down.

J

 

[W5FL]

Today on the 4 lane highway from the city to the cutoff to my house, a man was killed driving his car when a piece of angle iron was picked up by another car and came through the windshield and into his chest.

Everything you do every day has risks, you do the best you can with them.

 

[Rowski]

The maunual for the NH 7309 Quick Attach Farm Loader mentions nothing about lifting with chains. It does mention not to use the loader for handling large heavy objects like round bales, logs and oil drums with out special
attachments.

But it also says that "Equipment should not be operated only by those who are responsible and instructed to do so". I'm not laywer but that seems to cover just about anything!??

Derek

 

[DVerbarg]

Re: SAFETY WARNING: Using Loader to Lift with Cha

Glenn,

Checked today (the tractor is at the construction site) and did not see any labels on the loader regarding chain lifting (a TC40D w/17LA loader). A warning about electric lines and not allowing a person under a raised loader were the only labels that NH installed - unless they have already worn off ... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DaveV

 

[TomG]

As far as I know common law is the same where ever it forms the residual law--Canada, Britain, most states etc. It's possible that some jurisdictions have legislation that is superior to common law. However, the Mac coffee woman was awarded $500,000, and there is a story in this morning's news about a woman launching a $120,000 suit against Mac for pickle burns on her chin. The $125,000 doesn't include $15,000 for loss of something or another by her husband.

I do believe that the seemingly excessive use of safety content and equipment stickers is largely motivated by manufacturers attempting to protect themselves from such suits. OK, back to tractors. I also believe that the proliferation of safety materials may actually reduce safe operation. We were deluged with safety stuff during my four years in the Air Force. We trivialized the subject and turned it into a joke.

It's possible that manufacturers are mainly protecting themselves, and the results are worse safety records. At least my new Husky chain saw manual is about 3/4's safety. I did read it, and now understand a few more things. Will I remember? Don't know, but about the first thing I did with the new saw is take it up a ladder.

So, what's good for safety? This forum is. The 10/10 rule will stick with me, and so will the mental training idea. The immediate stories from real people about real situations do stick with me. Wish I had a chain saw forum.

So, I wonder if I broke the 10/10 rule this summer? I installed anchors for our construction trailer. I wanted to pull the cables tight before moving the trailer in place. I pulled them tight by lifting them with a loop of chain around the loader bucket. I did have a box scraper on, low rpm and feathered the lift control after the slack was out. I suppose there was a risk, but I hope an educated one. I also figured that if I could lift the anchors or break the cable, I wouldn't want to depend on them in a storm. I think the ability to take educated risks is a big part of safety. Here comes this forum again. I learned most of my education here. Of course I'm motivated since most of my uncles and parents' friends retired from farming following serious tractor accidents.

 

[MChalkley]

TomG - I think her husband got the 15 grand for psychological damage he incurred when his wife wouldn't kiss him while her burns were healing. Seems she forgot to tell him why she wouldn't kiss him. Details, details. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

As for your cable stretching with the loader, that doesn't sound like you broke too many rules. It's probably not an OSHA-approved practice but, then again, not much real work is. It sounds like you were careful enough. Besides, the real dangers with such things are moving too quickly, and not having the load securely attached to the loader, so it has an opportunity to shift or come completely loose. Then things happen kinda fast...

MarkC