ZTR slides down hill and over wall, driver was saved- very lucky

[Coyote machine]

So if I hire someone and provide the proper equipment (seat belts and rops) I still have to supervise every minute?
Part of why I work alone to begin with.

Have you been living in the same world as the rest of us? OF COURSE you have to supervise every minute- otherwise you'll be sued into the ground.:thumbdown:

"He never told me I have to wear my seat belt". "He said I could put the ROPS down if I wanted to". "I had to steal money from his business to support my crack, smack, oxy, habit(s)".

Business owner= fair game. You pay, and pay, and pay. Then you're broke.

 

[aczlan]

If you have low branches, either mulch under the tree so you don't have to get right next to it or trim the tree.
"But it was a pain to cut the trees back" will sound funny when you are in a cast from your bellybutton to your knees for a month or three because your pelvis was pulverised when the mower landed on top of you.

Aaron Z

 

[Coyote machine]

If you have low branches, either mulch under the tree so you don't have to get right next to it or trim the tree.
"But it was a pain to cut the trees back" will sound funny when you are in a cast from your bellybutton to your knees for a month or three because your pelvis was pulverised when the mower landed on top of you.

Aaron Z

Or when your neck snaps upon impact, and you die, like this guy would have, if it hadn't been for sheer 'luck'; because having the ROPS up is too much government interference in your life.

 

[davesl708]

So if I hire someone and provide the proper equipment (seat belts and rops) I still have to supervise every minute?
Part of why I work alone to begin with.

As the owner of the company you most likely will be responsible for your employees actions. If the food is contaminated you don't fine the production worker for negligence. You fine the company for not having employees properly trained and the right safeguards in place.

 

[Garycw]

If you have low branches, either mulch under the tree so you don't have to get right next to it or trim the tree. "But it was a pain to cut the trees back" will sound funny when you are in a cast from your bellybutton to your knees for a month or three because your pelvis was pulverised when the mower landed on top of you. Aaron Z

That's what I'm working on. First time out I took down three birdhouses & a few branches. I'm at the point now of needing to do some trimming. And this is with ROPS folded! It's ALWAYS UP & belt on with loader work though. I'd feel much better with it up with belt while mowing too.
A friend had there brother in law mowing a property with s pond. He got too close on ztr with ROPS up and belt on. He slid over into pond and trapped in his belt with head half out of water. He sealed a lot of water, gas/oil mix. He laid in comma 2 days before dying.
It's s good idea to have s seat belt cutter near ROPS or buckle.
I hope this guys eventually ok and finds another profession

 

[4570Man]

Have you been living in the same world as the rest of us? OF COURSE you have to supervise every minute- otherwise you'll be sued into the ground.:thumbdown: "He never told me I have to wear my seat belt". "He said I could put the ROPS down if I wanted to". "I had to steal money from his business to support my crack, smack, oxy, habit(s)". Business owner= fair game. You pay, and pay, and pay. Then you're broke.

Why would you bother hiring someone then? My uncle used to run a landscaping/ mowing business. He had to help the landscaping crew, but he let his mowing crew drive around in his company truck without him there. They picked up the equipment in the morning and he didn't see them until they got back that night.

 

[Coyote machine]

Why would you bother hiring someone then? My uncle used to run a landscaping/ mowing business. He had to help the landscaping crew, but he let his mowing crew drive around in his company truck without him there. They picked up the equipment in the morning and he didn't see them until they got back that night.

One has to evaluate risk. If there is too much risk; dangerous equipment, without adequately trained workers and whatnot, some decide to go solo, and others weigh the risks and decide to take the chance.
Landscaping has very predictable risks, some are harder to overcome than others.

 

[timswi]

The main reason I bought my Kubota Z724 is that it has ROPS. I really didn't need the "commercial" level machine. ROPS is always up (trees are trimmed to comply) and belt is always on...Was true when I used my BX23 to cut grass too. May have looked silly, but I don't really care.

 

[jcummins]

The main reason I bought my Kubota Z724 is that it has ROPS. I really didn't need the "commercial" level machine. ROPS is always up (trees are trimmed to comply) and belt is always on...Was true when I used my BX23 to cut grass too. May have looked silly, but I don't really care.

You're smarter than a lot of us, me included.

 

[big bubba]

as technology improves with internal combustion machine use (zero turn all way up to vehicles) so does our confidence in using them for our own purpose. case in point: zero turns on slopes, multitasking in suv's during inclement weather conditions, etc. bravado using these machines without knowing their limitations is ignorant and puts the operator (& possibly others) at risk. just look @ 1st snowfall accident reports with those 30+k suv's and see why. same holds true with zero turns on an excessive slope w/moisture.....there have been posts here on how to "beat" this potential danger with zero turns using special operator technique...well, just be sure your life insurance is current when you try. my take is step back, access the conditions, then be conservative in terms of safety....that is if you want to do the same in years ahead....:thumbsup: