Thank God for ROPS

[KiotiJohn]

I'm happy to hear that you weren't hurt in this accident.
Even a FOPS may have not helped with something that weighed that much.
The people in this vehicle weren't helped by having complete overhead coverage yesterday:
Tree Falls on Vehicle

 

[8NTX]

Kevin - glad to hear that you and the Deere are OK. I've got a few too many dead trees on my place. Fortunately, most of them are in the deep woods where my tractor doesn't venture. But I've got one near the trail to the lake that needs to go. An oak that the top fell out of about a year ago. The standing trunk is over 30' tall, with about a 24" diameter at the bottom. Just waiting for that sucker to fall, right where we park our golf cart. Think I'll make a call to the tree service.....

 

[BenderKC]

I have had similar hair raising experiences requiring a "break" of sorts.

Other times I have had various debris, limbs, etc. hit me in the face while mowing under trees and stuff fly from the weed eater. I stronly endorse the Husqvarna helmet with face shield and ear protection. Besides protecting your head, ears, hearing, eyes, face, etc.... it sure gives the kids another thing to talk about their weird dad.

<font color="orange"> </font> Husqvarna helmet <font color="orange"> </font>

Good luck.

 

[goodoleboy]

I dont know how much extra rops add to the price of a tractor but it is sure looks well worth it. If that tree fell on you and broke your neck or cracked your skull you would no longer be with us. Im sure you pay 20 times the price for rops (if you did not have it) just to avoid that accident.

Be careful

 

[SteveH_CT]

There's a coincidence - thats the same one I have... does your Deere dealer sell them as well? In my dealer they have a mannequin set up with the full protective garb - I saw that helmet and "had to have it". I wasn't kidding about the busted glasses, for some reason everytime something falls on me it heads straight for my face... It can only improve things of course... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Did you have to change your underwear? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[tracdoc]

Whew!

Glad to hear too that you're OK.

In addition to the fine suggestions in the thread, I might add a consideration for some type of reliable communication device. If cell phone service is good in your area, that would be fine. Where we live, cell towers are spotty and so is service. We use Motorola 2-way which has range that easily covers our property. I'm considering longer range units, to cover the possibility of the Mrs being out shopping and emergency arises.

A former mentor of mine, a physician in CT, died as the result of a tree fall while he was out in the woods cutting alone. He was apparently struck by limb, either not wearing his hard hat or had taken it off, or it was knocked off in the accident. The hat was found on the ground near where he was cutting.

He sustained an epidural hematoma--this is true emergency, life threatening arterial bleeeding between the cranial bone and the dura mater (the sac around the brain). Typically, these patients are lucid for a short time after the injury, and then lose consciousness as pressure on the brain increases from the continued bleeding.

The searchers found him expired in his truck. Evidently, he tried to get into the vehicle, but was probably confused at that point. He had no communication device with him. I would like to think he may have had a fighting chance, if he could have communicated his emergency and location to someone right after the accident.

Let's all keep as safe as we can...

 

[Varmintmist]

That rops could just as eaisly steered that tree into you. You are lucky. The only thing a hard hat would have done is let the coroner see what color hair you had. Be careful.

BTW, do brown stains come out of those yellow seats?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

A FOPS would have protected you. KiotiJohn posted a truck that got hit by a tree. No offense, but a truck cab isnt a fops, its a metal sunshade.

Get a new chain for the saw and take anything that looks like that down in any area you plan to work. Dead trees are dangerous, as you just found out. They can be tricky to fell also. You might want to find out what kind of critters those were. Take some to your local Ag outreach or Dept of envrio Res. There is currently a weevel of some flavor working on red oak in the SE. They might be able to help you get rid of them so that you have a healthy forest.

As for taking them down
http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/node1462.asp Click the more info tabs or the site map to the right side.

Heres a link to the husky site that has a decent overview of HOW to accomplish what you want to do without getting hurt. Remember, if you are real uncomfortable with felling a big tree, dont do it until you have some time with little ones under your belt. Although the site is a Husqvarna site, the techniqes work with Stihl, Poulan and other saws, though not as well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif One other thing, If you made the cuts and the tree isnt moving, go home. God made it grow, God will see that it hits the ground. Unless you are a logger, there isnt really a hurry. If your saw is stuck in the tree, unbolt the bar, then go home. One of the best items on that site is about giving yourself a area of retreat. If you dont have one, make one.

Chaps, good BOOTS, eyes and ears, a SET of felling wedges (plastic 4 in, 6 in and 8 in) are really a good idea and can make you look like you know what you are doing. The right tools make the job eaiser and safer.

 

[Kevin37]

Hello All:

Thanks for all the great replies! There are a few good links in this thread for safety and gear and I appreciate all the advice.
The main reason I post this stuff is so someone can see and read about it and hopefully think more then I did when they are in a similar situation. Situational awareness is key when operating any equipment and I know I need to improve mine.
I'm new to operating a tractor, and I'm new to owning a chunk of land that needs work, so my learning curve is pretty big.

For those that asked, my shorts cleaned up just fine. To be honest, one of my first thoughts was:" Oh no, my NEW tractor!!" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Kevin

Live and learn...I do a lot of learnin'

 

[r0GuE]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Oh yeah - I love those "Cheap plastic" fenders as well. Mine have taken several instances of abuse and just shake it off. I guarantee that if I had a metal hood it would be a mess by now. )</font>

Yeah, but metal fenders remind you to be safe for years to come! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif