Tractor Rollover in Michigan

[Henro]

Once and awhile I will use the saying, "I would rather be knuckled" which is hyperbole to say the leas. Now, most people think it means "I would rather get hit in the face with a fist", but it is actually a railroad term...

"To get knuckled" means a Conductor or Brakeman gets caught between the knuckles of train cars. Since it catches you at mid-level, the person lives because major organs are okay, but the trauma below is too great. Still the weight of the cars pressing on each other act as a tourniquet squeezing off all blood flow.

So they bring in the family, say their last good-byes, but eventually...yeah they have to pull the cars apart, and when that happens, it is instant death.

I heard that same story in a safety seminar I attended years ago. I now wonder if it is true, or just an urban legend someone dreamed up...

 

[5030]

I heard that same story in a safety seminar I attended years ago. I now wonder if it is true, or just an urban legend someone dreamed up...

No urban legend. I saw it happen personally. At the place I retired from a large coil of steel fell over on an employee, I was about 10 feet away. Crushed him from the waist down. He was still alive and they got his wife and a Chaplin gave him his last rights. Soon as the lifted the steel off, he was gone. He lasted about 45 minutes until the crane man lifted the steel coil. It wasn't pretty, I was there for the whole thing.

 

[5030]

Has to be a Kubota in the OP's picture. Only Kubota's fade to Mary Kay pink. Kioti's never fade.

 

[Henro]

No urban legend. I saw it happen personally. At the place I retired from a large coil of steel fell over on an employee, I was about 10 feet away. Crushed him from the waist down. He was still alive and they got his wife and a Chaplin gave him his last rights. Soon as the lifted the steel off, he was gone. He lasted about 45 minutes until the crane man lifted the steel coil. It wasn't pretty, I was there for the whole thing.

Wow Flip! What a bad memory...I think I was thinking more about people being coupled between rail cars as being somewhat common.

I spent about 30 years working in steel mills that produced steel coils...glad I never experienced what you did!

 

[ArlyA]

I worked within the RR industry for 4 or so years and heard the same story but with no collaborating facts. In general, I can't see how someone could survive a "coupling" since there is darn little space in the knuckles and I'd put that story in the "old wives" tales book. I do like facts, evidence or whatever to confirm things like this

 

[k0ua]

The most devastating systemic effects can occur when the crushing pressure is suddenly released, without proper preparation of the patient, causing reperfusion syndrome. In addition to tissue directly suffering the crush mechanism, tissue is then subjected to sudden reoxygenation in the limbs and extremities. Without proper preparation, the patient, with pain control, may be cheerful before recovery, but die shortly thereafter. This sudden failure is called the "smiling death".

 

[5030]

My late mother's second husband was minus a leg from the railroad. He was a brakeman and was riding a car ladder and slipped off and got run over by a train wheel. Took it off between the knee joint and his ankle. I cannot see how anyone could get crushed with a coupler knuckle, not wide enough to fit in unless you were extremely thin.

Accidents happen, most are avoidable.

 

[CobyRupert]

No urban legend. I saw it happen personally. At the place I retired from a large coil of steel fell over on an employee, I was about 10 feet away. Crushed him from the waist down. He was still alive and they got his wife and a Chaplin gave him his last rights. Soon as the lifted the steel off, he was gone. He lasted about 45 minutes until the crane man lifted the steel coil. It wasn't pretty, I was there for the whole thing.

There’s similar stories of people getting trapped between subway trains and the platform. Pinched below the waist, they’re conscious and talking until they have to eventually push the train car off them.

 

[5030]

Wow Flip! What a bad memory...I think I was thinking more about people being coupled between rail cars as being somewhat common.

I spent about 30 years working in steel mills that produced steel coils...glad I never experienced what you did!

Poop happens Henro. Guy was not working safely and got 'pinched'. Think of a toothpaste tube with pants on. Like I said, wasn't pretty. Glad I didn't have to clean up the aftermath.

 

[Beeenvenue]

All speculation without knowing the details. I NEVER wear a seat belt unless in difficult situations. Which I avoid anyway. I stand up and get on and off a piece of equipment way too often.

New to tractors but not to life. Industrial worker for 35+ years. Statements like this are very dangerous. The data is clear that that attitude is dangerous or deadly. Yes YOU have but many others are here (or their survivors are) who would say the same as you until that one time....

Do what you wish but leave your indignant, “ignore the facts and the real experts opinions” statements off of public forums.

How would you feel if one of those victims - or their survivors - called you one day and said “but I read this guy who has tons of experience say it was ok?”

I read your posts on everything else and you have so much good to share, and have already done so. Don’t spoil it.

 

[DMW]

I heard that same story in a safety seminar I attended years ago. I now wonder if it is true, or just an urban legend someone dreamed up...

Worked in a steel mill for 35yrs. For the first 10 I thought it was an urban legend as well, then I started working with the victim's son. He confirmed that this was exactly what happened, The knuckling, family visit, last rites before decoupling. His father lived a couple days in hospital before passing. The father also worked for the steel mill and was working in a shunting yard disposing of flourescent light tubes (breaking them on the ballast). The Enigines would get a railcar moving then let it free wheel in to the next car to save time. He never heard the car that hit him from behind.

 

[daugen]

New to tractors but not to life. Industrial worker for 35+ years. Statements like this are very dangerous. The data is clear that that attitude is dangerous or deadly. Yes YOU have but many others are here (or their survivors are) who would say the same as you until that one time....

Do what you wish but leave your indignant, “ignore the facts and the real experts opinions” statements off of public forums.

How would you feel if one of those victims - or their survivors - called you one day and said “but I read this guy who has tons of experience say it was ok?”

I read your posts on everything else and you have so much good to share, and have already done so. Don’t spoil it.

The only time it might make sense to me to not wear a seatbelt is if I was driving my tractor over a rickety bridge over water, or somewhere the tractor might plunge into deep mud or water.
I'm thinking rice farming in Louisiana?
Even then there are pros and cons.
Jessica Savitch died in the water and mud in my home town...so the idea of getting trapped in a car/tractor/anything and drowning is pretty grim.
Otherwise it would not surprise me if seat belts someday wound up with an interlock on them, no belt on, no forward motion.
Lots of folks still don't think they need seatbelts while driving a car. Just makes me scratch my head...

 

[Molalla1]

The only time it might make sense to me to not wear a seatbelt is if I was driving my tractor over a rickety bridge over water, or somewhere the tractor might plunge into deep mud or water.
I'm thinking rice farming in Louisiana?
Even then there are pros and cons.
Jessica Savitch died in the water and mud in my home town...so the idea of getting trapped in a car/tractor/anything and drowning is pretty grim.
Otherwise it would not surprise me if seat belts someday wound up with an interlock on them, no belt on, no forward motion.
Lots of folks still don't think they need seatbelts while driving a car. Just makes me scratch my head...

How are thing's going daugen ? I'm healing still, but it is getting better slooowly . . . . I'm thinking a good year for my recovery.

 

[daugen]

How are thing's going daugen ? I'm healing still, but it is getting better slooowly . . . . I'm thinking a good year for my recovery.

thanks, good to hear. If my PET scan is fine on Wednesday I'll be good to go. North that is, on Friday to the town I grew up in, New Hope PA.

 

[Molalla1]

thanks, good to hear. If my PET scan is fine on Wednesday I'll be good to go. North that is, on Friday to the town I grew up in, New Hope PA.

Nice Mr. daugen . . .

 

[mred2]

In the past, 45 years ago, tractors did not have seat belts or ROPS. Also a lot of platforms were made so you could stand up. I stood up about 1/3 of the time in a 14 hour day. Today, there are belts and ROPS. And the platform, at least on mine, does not lend itself to standing while working. I do think it is better to wear a belt. It is almost impossible for a young man to jump clear of a roll over, let along an old man.