Riding in Bucket Death

[MHarryE]

15-year-old dies in accident with skid steer tractor | www.WDIO.com

This accident about 30 miles from me. Haven't heard any more details than in this report.

 

[ovrszd]

Sorry to see this.

A SS is horrible dangerous to use the bucket for a scaffold, carry-all, whatever. Hard to have smooth control of the bucket.

Today my Sons and I were leveling a pad for a portable building to be added at my Eldest Son's property. It's going to sit under the shade of a large Maple tree. Eldest Son running a CTL, youngest Son in the bucket using it for a "lift" to pole saw off some tree limbs 15ft in the air. I was a nervous wreck. Gave them the Father lecture sternly.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's always tragic when something like this happens. He was just trying to help.

 

[fried1765]

Sorry to see this.

A SS is horrible dangerous to use the bucket for a scaffold, carry-all, whatever. Hard to have smooth control of the bucket.

Today my Sons and I were leveling a pad for a portable building to be added at my Eldest Son's property. It's going to sit under the shade of a large Maple tree. Eldest Son running a CTL, youngest Son in the bucket using it for a "lift" to pole saw off some tree limbs 15ft in the air. I was a nervous wreck. Gave them the Father lecture sternly.

"Under the shade of a large maple tree" is a bad idea (maybe not for a portable bldg.) .

Twice I built near large trees.
The first time the tree died.
The second time the tree blew over.

My son is about to build a garage, and insists he will save a large maple.
I tell him ....NO...cut the tree down!
I have experience!

 

[ovrszd]

"Under the shade of a large maple tree" is a bad idea (maybe not for a portable bldg.) .

Twice I built near large trees.
The first time the tree died.
The second time the tree blew over.

My son is about to build a garage, and insists he will save a large maple.
I tell him ....NO...cut the tree down!
I have experience!

If you want shade, build under trees.

If you don't want shade, build away from trees.

Never, ever think you can build away from trees and then have shade. Life isn't that long.

 

[Jstpssng]

If you build close enough to the tree to disturb the roots, the tree will die. It's better to cut it first.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Once saw Ontario provincial Police having stopped a Menonite Skid Steer at the side of the highway with at least two riders in the bucket.

It's just such an unforgiving structure, and generally falling out, puts you right in the path of the machine.

 

[Thomas]

Very sad news indeed thoughts/prayers to family.

 

[Thomas]

oldballs
Just last week I was pole sawing (gas powered) as high as it could extend. I am in the process of clearing the overhang of my Osage Orange hedge along the property line.

The saw cut right through a 8" limb and it fell right away and grazed me, knocking me to the ground. You just can't tell which way a long heavy limb is going to fall. Well, i got up and found no broken bones, so continued to work.....just lucky it didn't hurt me real bad. Most of us old geezers work alone and are at risk just about all day long.
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Glad your okay Mike...whew,yep about working alone.

 

[shovelmike]

oldballs
Just last week I was pole sawing (gas powered) as high as it could extend. I am in the process of clearing the overhang of my Osage Orange hedge along the property line.

The saw cut right through a 8" limb and it fell right away and grazed me, knocking me to the ground. You just can't tell which way a long heavy limb is going to fall. Well, i got up and found no broken bones, so continued to work.....just lucky it didn't hurt me real bad. Most of us old geezers work alone and are at risk just about all day long.
----------------------------
Glad your okay Mike...whew,yep about working alone.

I constantly battle the Osage Orange here, I bought a 3 point PTO driven chipper, it would not handle even moderate size OA limbs, kept throwing belts and the manufacturer kept sending me new ones. I finally sent it back. Now I just pile it up and burn it.
I try to never work alone anymore, too much can happen too fast. When I get tired to the point than my legs get wobbly I call it a day, exhaustion multiplies the chances of an accident.

 

[oldballs]

I guess I could start a new thread about working alone vs safety.........but........I have no answer for that. If your wife is dead and your kids are gone, the neighbors are too far away, what are your choices??

The best I can come up with is to be as sensible as possible, carry a cell phone (old flip up thing), and quit or don't start when you are too tired or hurting already from heavy work.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[k0ua]

I guess I could start a new thread about working alone vs safety.........but........I have no answer for that. If your wife is dead and your kids are gone, the neighbors are too far away, what are your choices??

The best I can come up with is to be as sensible as possible, carry a cell phone (old flip up thing), and quit or don't start when you are too tired or hurting already from heavy work.

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, I think that is about all you can do. Take your time and don't work when your are really tired, and try to think things thru as much as possible. When you are tired and in a hurry is when you don't think things through, and when "stuff" happens.

 

[ovrszd]

Mike, I think that is about all you can do. Take your time and don't work when your are really tired, and try to think things thru as much as possible. When you are tired and in a hurry is when you don't think things through, and when "stuff" happens.

James, I think Mike can work either of us under the table....

 

[k0ua]

James, I think Mike can work either of us under the table....

I wouldn't question that at all.

 

[shooterdon]

Mike, I think that is about all you can do. Take your time and don't work when your are really tired, and try to think things thru as much as possible. When you are tired and in a hurry is when you don't think things through, and when "stuff" happens.

Good advice. I often work alone but I rarely will use a chainsaw alone. I will be 70 in a couple of weeks so better safe than sorry. What we old guys forget is that we are not 30...or even 50 anymore. We get tired more easily. Hopefully we have got a bit wiser and take fewer risks.