Golden Rules?

[Maddog66]

I work in manufacturing and spend every second of every day wearing either safety boots or shoes, hearing protection, safety glasses, and mandatory non-slip gloves. As soon as the weekend hits
I switch over to flip flops and slip-on type comfortable shoes and boots, sunglasses, no plugs, no gloves…….and then go “work”with my tractor and food plot implements all weekend.

Last weekend I was hooking up a new 7’ PTO snowblower for the first time to get it ready for winter, but the top hook only had about 1/2 bite (needed raised). I figured I could go to the rear and give it a push to get it to seat properly. Turns out pushing forward on the blower caused it to fall off the hook and it missed my left toes by about an inch. Scared the shite out of me.

I was there by myself and my phone was across the shop.

Seatbelt, steel toes, work gloves,go slow, phone in pocket …..are my 5 golden rules as a newish tractor owner from this day forward.

How “sticky” are all of you on safety shoes particularly? I feel like I see lots of farmers in non-steel comfortable leather work boots or non-steel Muck boots.

 

[DJN]

I’m usually wearing my safety toe boots around the farm on the weekends. I have them on every day at work and it’s just what’s comfortable for me. And I’ve gotten much better at wearing other safety gear (namely eye and hearing protection) as I’ve gotten older, but the ears took a beating in my 20’s for sure. Gotta save what’s left of them!

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I work with products measured in the Sever hundred to multiple thousands of pounds. Safety toes are IMO a no no.

If something I work with fell on my toes the safety toe would fail and cut all of them off while trapping my foot inside the boot. Just my opinion


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[SwampCat]

I worked with the Feds for years and safety was at the forefront. Have given 100’s of safety meetings in my career. I dont wear safety shoes or hearing protection now. But I do wear eye protection and gloves - most of the time - and a mask while spraying. I have even been known to drink a beer while on the tractor - but NEVER to excess

 

[Mortenson]

Kids wear seatbelts in all our machinery, sitting in buddy seats. No riding on fenders or floors like I used to do as a kid. Always wear glasses when doing anything questionable like beating on something. I don't wear steel toe boots. Just Redwings. Most farmers I know don't. But some who love spending lots of time in the shop do. I don't use hearing protection but know that I should. Sunscreen is a biggie to add. My dad did a lot of damage his whole life. He set the office record last year by having 47 spots on his face, neck, shoulders and ears frozen or cut out in one session.

 

[Mortenson]

And I agree with slowing down. And never ever fall. Bad things happen when people fall.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Kids wear seatbelts in all our machinery, sitting in buddy seats. No riding on fenders or floors like I used to do as a kid. Always wear glasses when doing anything questionable like beating on something. I don't wear steel toe boots. Just Redwings. Most farmers I know don't. But some who love spending lots of time in the shop do. I don't use hearing protection but know that I should. Sunscreen is a biggie to add. My dad did a lot of damage his whole life. He set the office record last year by having 47 spots on his face, neck, shoulders and ears frozen or cut out in one session.

I honestly think skin should be covered. With the soaring increase of skin cancer in the past 30 years you’d have a hard time convincing me that sun block isn’t causing it. Then again it could just be that people are getting a false sense of security by putting it on.


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[Someday isle]

I am Often by myself when I’m out working on my property. New tractor owner this year but used my ATV and walk behind like a tractor for five years. I’m pretty safety conscious. Wear good boots and gloves all the time when I’m working with equipment. Safety glasses are always on and hearing protection most of the time but lately with the tractor I’ve not worn hearing protection because I’m learning how the tractor sounds. Chainsaw work requires chaps, good gloves, boots, and helmet mandatory in my mind - and these days I limit myself to two tanks of gas then I stop before I get too tired. When I hunt I let my family know which stand I’m in and what time I expect to be home. I’m hooked to the tree with harness and lifeline before I step off the ground. I probably overdo it with safety sometimes but I’m not a kid anymore and lots of people still depend on me too much for me to take silly chances. Im just not quick enough anymore to get out of the way fast or manhandle something if I mess up. I always figured I’d get older, just didn’t think I’d age.

 

[Triple C]

The older I get, the more safety conscious I have become. 65 and aging well. I have never owned a pair of safety toe boots. I may in the future after having a Woods heavy duty bush hog slip off the lower link and onto my foot sitting inside Muck ankle boots. Scared the bejeezus out of me for a few seconds when I couldn't remove my foot from underneath the bush hog. Finally got it freed. These days I always buckle the seat belt, wear glasses and hearing protection when operating the tractor. Had a close call several years ago with a FEL raised to high full of wet manure while making a turn. From that day forward the seat belt has always been fastened. Accidents are not a big deal until a bad one happens. Then they are a big, big deal. As for the sun, I now wear long sleeves even in the heat of the summer and floppy hats. Should wear gloves as well.

 

[TreeDaddy]

Agree with all themes/concepts posted above

This probably falls into the "no s***" category but........

Turn the tractor "off" before you get out of the cab to check sprayers, blades,implements,etc

bill

 

[yoderjac]

I work in manufacturing and spend every second of every day wearing either safety boots or shoes, hearing protection, safety glasses, and mandatory non-slip gloves. As soon as the weekend hits
I switch over to flip flops and slip-on type comfortable shoes and boots, sunglasses, no plugs, no gloves…….and then go “work”with my tractor and food plot implements all weekend.

Last weekend I was hooking up a new 7’ PTO snowblower for the first time to get it ready for winter, but the top hook only had about 1/2 bite (needed raised). I figured I could go to the rear and give it a push to get it to seat properly. Turns out pushing forward on the blower caused it to fall off the hook and it missed my left toes by about an inch. Scared the shite out of me.

I was there by myself and my phone was across the shop.

Seatbelt, steel toes, work gloves,go slow, phone in pocket …..are my 5 golden rules as a newish tractor owner from this day forward.

How “sticky” are all of you on safety shoes particularly? I feel like I see lots of farmers in non-steel comfortable leather work boots or non-steel Muck boots.

We all cheat...then get a reminder like yours, and go back to basics. I will say some of the new safety lockouts on tractors don't always work well.

For example my buddy has a JD 790. It has an under-seat safety switch. You can't engage the PTO unless you are seated on the tractor. That is actually a great safety feature for most implements, but it sucks for my sprayer. I typically reach into the tank with the PTO running and spray the hose down the input hole to prime the PTO pump, but when I used my buddies 790 I could not do that. I had to put a couple cable ties under the seat and slide them over the switch to hold it down. Fortunately it runs long enough for me to hop off (holding the seat down) and then lift the seat, push the button down, and slide the cable ties over it.

The same safety relaxation holds true for hunting. We get lax and then have a close call and get a wake-up call.

Glad you were not hurt. Some wake-up calls are more costly than others.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Maddog66]

I got my wake up call on treestand hunting about 15 years ago when one of my screw in tree steps fell away as I put my weight on it. The growth of the tree in less than 2 years caused it to loosen. Luckily I had 3 other points of contact and still had enough upper body strength to catch myself before falling 20 feet. Since that day, I’ve never left the ground without a lifeline or linemans belt.

As far as sunscreen, my Norwegian heritage allows me about 15 minutes in the direct hot sun before I burn to a crisp. It’s one of the main reasons I bought a cab tractor with AC……in spite of only really needing it a few times per summer.

 

[buckdeer1]

I have seen tractor accidents where they jumped into gear and took off,rolled over and just last week a town over a 1 year old had a leg amputated in a lawn mower accident. We use alot of dangerous equipment including chain saws. Be careful and live to see your family or another hunting season

 

[Derek Reese 29]

I had an old Loggy Bayou lock on fall out from under me while 18 feet in the air about 6 years ago...broke my wrist, sprained my ankle and bruised a few ribs...in hindsight it coulda been alot worse...
Before then, I never wore a harness with any regularity....from then on, I never leave the house or the ground without it, even to get into a 12 foot ladder stand.

 

[QuackAddict]

I wear steel toes at work and wear the same boots for pretty much every occasion. Another thing i've been wearing (recently) are chaps anytime i use the saw, 6 years of shooting artillery made me say "huh" too many times so ill always wear ear protection even when mowing the lawn. I'm not made of steel anymore and with a baby boy on the way i've really stepped back and assessed my prior decisions.

 

[yoderjac]

I wear steel toes at work and wear the same boots for pretty much every occasion. Another thing i've been wearing (recently) are chaps anytime i use the saw, 6 years of shooting artillery made me say "huh" too many times so ill always wear ear protection even when mowing the lawn. I'm not made of steel anymore and with a baby boy on the way i've really stepped back and assessed my prior decisions.

Chaps are a downfall for me. I've go them. If I'm doing a big habitat project, I wear them. However when I'm just cutting a log that is crossing a trail or some small job, I haven't taken the time to put them on. I SHOULD!

 

[TreeDaddy]

Chaps are a downfall for me. I've go them. If I'm doing a big habitat project, I wear them. However when I'm just cutting a log that is crossing a trail or some small job, I haven't taken the time to put them on. I SHOULD!

I have had too many near misses NOT to wear chaps,ear protection , and helmet

I look like a goober in full regalia, but i still have my legs,hearing,etc

bill

 

[roymunson]

Its interesting to see where all your "walks of life" are from and how they got you to your decisions and impact your view of safety.

I wear a safety harness in a treestand, gloves and chaps when chainsawing, but that's about it.

on the tractor my headphones are more to listen to a podcast or Audible find than for safety, and I've never owned a pair of steel toes.

I do need to be better about safety glasses. Especially when weedeating or something.

I haven't lost any body parts yet, and I'd probably change my tune if I had. I did rip up my chaps with a moving chain once, made me appreciate having them.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I’m overly cautious cause 9 times out of 10 I’m by myself. Steel toes, pants, long sleeves, buff around my neck, gloves, sun screen, sun glasses, helmet chaps and gloves when running the saw, if I’m on the tractor for long periods I wear noise canceling headphones, special gloves when mixing chemicals, hell I even turn my propane off to the house when I’m going to bed (don’t trust original owners plumbing). The one thing I probably need to do better is wear some kind of mask when spraying. I’m bad about that.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I'm bald and I hate putting on sunscreen so I'm almost always in pants, long sleeves, and a bucket hat. There are so many long sleeve shirts and pants out there now days that are just as cool as wearing short sleeves. I tend to use technical clothing targeted to backpackers a lot.

My hearing is not good at 36 and my wife is always on me about hearing protection. I got a set of these electronic plugs this spring https://www.otto-comm.com/noizebarriermicro and dont mind wearing them throughout the day when I will be intermittently using a saw or making loud noises without being bothered.

I spend my days behind a keyboard now so my hands are a lot softer than they once were. I wear gloves most of the time.

Dont own chaps but I'll buy some before going crazy on TSI.