marlboro
New member
Guys, I don't post much, but I read this forum everyday and I find the safety related postings particularly educational. I remember reading one recently about someone getting their hand crushed between a tree and the ROPS. Well...
My property is a woodlot and I have been extra careful of where I put my hands while moving among the trees. Well, two days ago, I was doing some rough grading with the front bucket between my fence and a couple of 10" oak trees. It's tight in there and while maneuvering I saw my rear tire was going to hit (not rub) this particular oak. The tire was maybe 1" short of hitting the tree and I decided to keep creeping until it made contact the back out and correct. No problem at this point. I'm looking down to my right, creeping forward, totally focused on the tire and tree. Contact. I move my heel to reverse pedal and slowly push down. HOLY *#&%! I KNOW in my mind that I have just broken my elbow and/or arm! The pain in tremendous! The kind of pain that makes you weak and dizzy.
In shock, I manage to turn off the tractor and go get my wife. I proceed to roll around moaning on my deck for the next 10-15 minutes. In short, I got very lucky and escaped with nothing more than a DEEP bruise, but it was 1/4" or so from being REAL BAD!
So, here's what I happened as best I can figure. I'm turned (at my waist) looking down and to the right. So, my right elbow naturally extends outward. I'm backing up (unaware of the trap that's set) when the back of my arm (just above my elbow) hits the tree and pins my arm between the tree and tractor and we're still moving. I'm off the reverse pedal as fast as my reaction time will allow. And the rest is history.
I think my right hand was on the steering wheel, but it may have been on the joystick. Either way, my hand/wrist was the point of contact with the tractor. It bent my wrist back pretty good and still hurts a bit, but nothing like my elbow.
Again, I decided to post this just so it may help someone else down the road. Be safe.
-Mel
My property is a woodlot and I have been extra careful of where I put my hands while moving among the trees. Well, two days ago, I was doing some rough grading with the front bucket between my fence and a couple of 10" oak trees. It's tight in there and while maneuvering I saw my rear tire was going to hit (not rub) this particular oak. The tire was maybe 1" short of hitting the tree and I decided to keep creeping until it made contact the back out and correct. No problem at this point. I'm looking down to my right, creeping forward, totally focused on the tire and tree. Contact. I move my heel to reverse pedal and slowly push down. HOLY *#&%! I KNOW in my mind that I have just broken my elbow and/or arm! The pain in tremendous! The kind of pain that makes you weak and dizzy.
In shock, I manage to turn off the tractor and go get my wife. I proceed to roll around moaning on my deck for the next 10-15 minutes. In short, I got very lucky and escaped with nothing more than a DEEP bruise, but it was 1/4" or so from being REAL BAD!
So, here's what I happened as best I can figure. I'm turned (at my waist) looking down and to the right. So, my right elbow naturally extends outward. I'm backing up (unaware of the trap that's set) when the back of my arm (just above my elbow) hits the tree and pins my arm between the tree and tractor and we're still moving. I'm off the reverse pedal as fast as my reaction time will allow. And the rest is history.
I think my right hand was on the steering wheel, but it may have been on the joystick. Either way, my hand/wrist was the point of contact with the tractor. It bent my wrist back pretty good and still hurts a bit, but nothing like my elbow.
Again, I decided to post this just so it may help someone else down the road. Be safe.
-Mel
