Close call trailer work

mikeyee · Jan 11, 2010

Yesterday night my dad and I was working on installing electric brakes on our trailer. My dad was backing up the truck into the warehouse to connect the hitches when he hit the accelerator and brakes while I was behind the truck. Burnt rubber and powerful diesel truck wheels made it shoot backwards so fast. I literally had no time to respond.

Luckily the truck hitch slammed into the ball hitch of the trailer while I was behind the ball, also more to the left. I had one foot of clearance from the truck. I could not sleep last night because of this scare. Lesson learned, DO NOT stay behind a backwards moving truck, if you have to (in this case) then put something in between you and the truck.

God was definitely on my side today. Take care fellas

lakeside · Jan 12, 2010

Good story to pass on, especially since you weren't hurt.

Having worked around trucks and heavy machinery for a greater part of my working life I know how fast things can go sour.

Not only is it safer to stand to one side when someone is backing up, by being to the side the driver can see you in the rear view mirrors. If I'm backing up, and especially with regular folks around, if I can't see my ground guide in the mirrors I don't move.

There are way too many stories around of people getting crushed between trucks and loading docks.

Everybody makes mistakes, I've just been lucky that none have really hurt me too bad. It's only from sharing our stories, and sometimes our mistakes, that other people learn before it hurts.

Renze · Jan 12, 2010

As a 14 year old kid i once nearly killed my brother: I was driving our Ursus C-385A behind the workshop to disconnect the subsoiler after work: From walking on freshly subsoiled land my clogs were slippery from mud. my foot slipped off the clutch, 4.5 ton of tractor jumped backwards, slamming the 3pt subsoiler into the shop wall, chipping the bricks. My brother was standing behind it and allmost **** his pants: He was darned lucky that this particular model of subsoiler had the optional grassland kit, with a disk coulter in front of every leg, and a steel roller behind. The outrigger to which the steel rollers are attached, left him with enough clearance between the subsoilers main frame and the wall. (he had to hold his breath to fit inbetween)

Taylortractornut · Jan 12, 2010

I had a close call backing up a DM Mack 10 wheeler I had on a jobite I worked at. The company had this truck to haul stumps on the job. We also had a tag along trailer for moving a track loader and material to the back of the job. Iwas backing up and we had this annoying foreman that thought everyone was a dumba**. ehd walk in between the truck and trailer to guide me back. I clutched it to stopp till he moved, but he didnt move. I was sitting there when my foot stomped the floor. My clutch cable snapped and I slapped the trailer hard with the hitch. the only thing that saved him was the loader was sitting behind the triler and caught it. Till I could pull the Kill out on the dash.

texasjohn · Jan 13, 2010

Good stories all..... and we can learn from them. Glad all stories so far indicate that serious injury was avoided, although just barely.

Mikeyee, particularly glad you are safe...

We'll never know if this post makes somebody think and move to a safer location in the future when between a moving powerful object and an immovable hard object. But, I bet it will avoid injury for someone.

It can go bad so fast... and, it's not like on TV where there is music that lets you know it is approaching. The only thing to do is to ALWAYS consider the "what if" scenario all the time while working and to position yourself to be as safe as possible if it happens.

Work slow.
Work smart.
Think ahead.
Be safe out there guys!

czechsonofagun · Jan 17, 2010

Had a similar situation. After changing brake pads, I didn't realize brakes need to be pumped few times before they start working properly. Since that I always make sure I pump the brakes till they feel hard after I mess with it. Rather shock when you step on the brake and it drops to the floor.

etcallhome · Jan 17, 2010

Glad you are OK ..A friend was selling his car yrs ago and had just finished putting new pads on when someone came to take his car for test drive.
Rich hops in back seat ,husband and wife get in and down the road they go.
Rich is leaning on back seat telling couple what all he has done to car when main road is coming quickly in his sight. The driver says NO BRAKES!!!!! Rich yells back PUMP THE BRAKES, PUMP THE BRAKES.!!! To late went across main road into the ditch .Thankfully no one was hurt and no one hit them.WHY there were always a coal truck coming up or down that road....
A good thing to remember always pump those brakes... !!!

The Haymaker · Jan 29, 2010

Back in a past life while working in a lube shop I almost killed myself and a coworker with an '85 full size Jimmy and a four post lift.

After refilling with oil I reached in and started the beast while the other guy stood in front to look for leaks. Just as I turned the key the owner yelled "No.......!!!!!!".

He had disconnected the clutch safety and left it in gear. The truck fired, lurched forward and pinned me between the door (being forced closed by the post of the lift) and the door frame. My partner ended up in the nook formed by the plow head gear of the truck and the now VERY bowed out metal garage door. That plow frame saved him from some pretty major injuries I think.

I ended up with a knee that didn't work right for two months after (never did see a Dr.) and a few pulled muscles. I actually yanked the steering wheel into an egg shape trying to get back to the key and shut the beast off. There was a substantial dent in the door from the post.

The guy threatened to sue for damages to his vehicle until I mentioned counter-suit because of my injuries caused by his knowingly faulty vehicle. Never heard from him again. He never came back for another oil change either.

Renze · Jan 31, 2010

The Haymaker said:
The guy threatened to sue for damages to his vehicle until I mentioned counter-suit because of my injuries caused by his knowingly faulty vehicle. Never heard from him again. He never came back for another oil change either.

I cant be sorry about customers like that... Dont like people that threat with lawyers... they stink as bad as lawyers themself.

The Haymaker · Jan 31, 2010

Renze said:
I cant be sorry about customers like that... Dont like people that threat with lawyers... they stink as bad as lawyers themself.

Two lessons were learned, I never reached in and started a standard again, and he never stood in front while checking for leaks.

This happened soon before I almost got fired for handing a know-it-all customer a wrench and saying "Since you know all, change your own oil, let me know when I'm done so I can bill you for lift rental." After 5 years of working lumber yards, car washes, and lube shops, I vowed I'd NEVER work for the general public again.... A promise I have kept for the last 15 years.

Now that I train in safety, The term "Near Miss" from the insurance industry has applied a lot in my life!