Saw a dumb person today

RobertN · Jan 22, 2002

I was out on a job site doing installation, and saw some guys cutting trenches for some new houses in a development. One was on a trencher, the other on a skip-loader. Nothing unusual, right???

Well, it was unusual that the guy on the skip loader was running around doing his grading, with the loader all the way up! Now, it was flattish ground. But, it was soft, where a tire could easily sink. Too, he was buzzing around pretty fast.

But, get this... The had cut the ROPS off, just level with his head! All there was was two posts sticking up! Now, I'm not against adding to a ROPS, maybe making it a full cage like when you add one to a roll bar in a Jeep. But, to whack the thing off at head level???

This guy is a real example of an accident waiting to happen. But, with obvious disregard for safety, I don't know if you could even call it a accident.

I was glad when we left the jobsite, cause watching this guy just spooked me. As a trained FF/EMT with some expierience around bad car crashes, I could just imagine what would happen to this guy if that large tractor went over!

Be safe out there...

Harv · Jan 23, 2002

Robert -

Clearly the guy was right in the middle of converting his ROPS to the fold-down type, and in the meantime he's using the FEL for rollover protection.

Okay, so that's the best benefit of the doubt spin I can put on it. Hope we don't see him on the 6 o'clock news tomorrow.

TerryinMD · Jan 23, 2002

He'll not be so happy if an OSHA-type person starts to asking questions and shuts down his operation. Or if the insurance company does some spot checking to see if they comply.....

Terry

frank_f15 · Jan 23, 2002

guess it is just another case of "IT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME"
THE CEMETERY IS FULL OF THEM

toddwulf · Jan 23, 2002

Robert, I'm down in Hangtown-Where was this guy? I'll go see about a picture.

Todd in Placerville

RobertN · Jan 24, 2002

We were working in Esparto, on the other side of Woodland. I work with a guy that installs the groups USPS mail boxes...

ps. did you see us in the Christmas Parade? We had four antique tractors and a Cub Scout float...