woman looses arms with posthole digger

[SnowRidge]

Wow, scary. This is a good reminder for us not to wear loose clothing around tractors and watch what we're doing.

No, it's really not, although not wearing loose clothing around any machinery is always a good thing. What this is really about is not getting off of the tractor with the PTO engaged or still turning, ever.

I'll go further. If the PTO is electrically operated, you shouldn't even get off of the tractor with the engine running, especially if you are going to be anywhere near the PTO or a PTO driven implement, lest a short circuit or something bumping a switch activates the PTO unexpectedly.

 

[radioman]

Very sad. My heart goes out to her and family.

 

[Sackett2]

good points. Let me clarify. Just as I do with my riding mower, i won't touch anything when it's running. I will disengage the pto when something don't sound right, and I may look, but no fingers-toes-arms go near any part of the pto when the rig is running. I may look, but not touch. I am paranoid about the pto, long before I knew what it was. i won't exit the tractor with the pto engaged.
Never thought about the switch failing, but anything can happen.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Cidertom]

I guess I have a slightly different point of view. While for many (if not most) things there is no need to get off the tractor with the PTO running, threre are tools that are powered while stationary.

Just because we have all the pto shields, interlocks and guards on equipment does not preclude injury. As I preach to the child unit: You must look and think about what you are doing, and what it may do to you. Anytime we are dealing with power, any power, you must exercise extreme caution.

I don't need any more incidents like this one. For the past 27 years I have been dealing with the after effects of an incautious moment, forgetfullness, lack of understanding how things work, and the occasional "Darwin Moment". It happens to newbies, to the pro-sumer, and to the folks that live agriculture. From the huge land tractors to the riding mower and everything in between. One disturbing trend is starting to show: It (the equipment) wouldn't let me do anything unsafe. This coupled with the "it can't be my fault" crowd makes me think that the safeguards should be on the operator not the equipment.

Wouldn't it be great if this forum was empty.

 

[SnowRidge]

............Never thought about the switch failing, but anything can happen.
Thanks for the advice.

Wires can short and switches can fail ON, although failing OFF is more likely. They can also be turned on inadvertently, perhaps without anyone realizing it. They can be bumped on by flying or falling sticks, flying rocks, animals leaping about (got dog?), someone's elbow or backside. They can be switched on because they sit next to another identical switch that controls something else (Power Trac's light switch, for example), and the operator meant to turn the other item on or off.

I once turned the PTO on my Power Trac off and was half way off of the machine before I realized the mower was still engaged. I had turned the lights on, instead of turning the PTO off. Talk about a wake up call.

Tractor's with PTO switches really should have something like this to prevent unintended engagement.

 

[flusher]

Sad:
Several bad choices caused this incident
No particular order
Bolt holding the auger to the the drive extended over 3 inches past the coupling.
(we think that was the initial thing that caught her sweatshirt)
Placing the PTO in gear getting off the tractor.
Pulling down on the auger head to cause it to dig into hard pan.
Doing the job alone.

it took us about 30 minutes to get her untangled. Overall though it went fairly well (looking from a system point of view) from the 911 call to the OR 120 miles away an hour and a half.

I'm in the market for a PHD, but not the type involved in this accident (mounted on the 3pt hitch and driven by the rear pto). Those PHDs are relatively inexpensive tractor implements, but, as in this case, can be dangerous.

I'll pay the extra bucks and get a hydraulic drive PHD that attaches to the bucket of my FEL. That way the PHD will be in front where I can see what it's doing and it'll have downforce from the FEL hydraulics. Safety first.

 

[Sackett2]

I guess I have a slightly different point of view. While for many (if not most) things there is no need to get off the tractor with the PTO running, threre are tools that are powered while stationary.

Just because we have all the pto shields, interlocks and guards on equipment does not preclude injury. As I preach to the child unit: You must look and think about what you are doing, and what it may do to you. Anytime we are dealing with power, any power, you must exercise extreme caution.

I don't need any more incidents like this one. For the past 27 years I have been dealing with the after effects of an incautious moment, forgetfullness, lack of understanding how things work, and the occasional "Darwin Moment". It happens to newbies, to the pro-sumer, and to the folks that live agriculture. From the huge land tractors to the riding mower and everything in between. One disturbing trend is starting to show: It (the equipment) wouldn't let me do anything unsafe. This coupled with the "it can't be my fault" crowd makes me think that the safeguards should be on the operator not the equipment.

Wouldn't it be great if this forum was empty.

AMEN!

When I first hooked up my hog, (someone) told me to take off the PTO shield on the tractor, it's still on. I was impressed to see the plastic cover on the PTO shaft, but I still won't touch it.

yes I forgot there are some tools you have to get off to operate, will keep this in mind. (I don't own any yet)
Safety first!