Eye, Ear, Nose and ....

[riptides]

I just came in from mowing, my friend proceeded to get quite a laugh out of my protective apparel. He of the cab tractor brethren, and non-compact at that. Anyway, he commented that I seem to be extreme in my contraptions. I don't consider it extreme at all, wearing full googles, with a nose and mouth dust mask, hearing protection all under a hat of choice. I use to wear just googles, with hearing protection (I use my shooting ear gear) when operating certain pieces. This time of year, the airways get the dust mask. It's a name brand, roots in the ATV world.

Do you all engage in safety apparel for the job, based on conditions and equipment your running? Especially yard and field work?

I think what got him was my dust mask. And like I said, he sits in an A/C cab while he is here. I am the guy in the hay wagon. LOL.

 

[scdeerslayer]

Dust mask when mowing or disking so I'm not stopped up the next week. Don't worry about it if it's wet. Radio earmuffs when doing any fieldwork. With the new Kubota that's not as necessary as with the older tractors but blocking a lot of the noise and having the radio is nice. Sunglasses if it's bright enough. Baseball cap.

 

[Thomas]

Such task as your doing yes,but just puttering on/off tractor not as much.
Did you show your friend the outside of the dusk when you were done.

 

[Wagtail]

You're not being 'extreme' at all, Mate.

I don't have a cab either and I always wear a hat, sunnies and ear defenders, at a minimum. The job can dictate any extra PPE, such as a dust-mask when stacking rounds of hay inside a shed or tilling. I always wear long sleeve shirts & trousers + boots, especially in Summer due to the extreme UV rays down here (my black ballcap is now grey!). I have spare ear defenders for anyone who may be working around my tractor too.

 

[jimjumper]

If you have an old 2 cylinder Yanmar, you won't forget that hearing protection! They don't call them Yammer hammers for nothing...

 

[brown40]

I always wear a hat, I'm pretty good about using gloves on account of lots of tractor stuff is edged and abraded steel (Working becomes unpleasant with fresh damage); if I'm running the PTO (mowing, tilling, chipping, splitting) or know I'm on an extended job then for sure I wear do hearing protection.
I should be more diligent about eyewear (wear prescription glasses so hard to have comfort and clarity). I always gear up feeding the chipper, but blink in and digest a lot of airbornes when I mow.
I think if you can use respiratory protection its the best practice--hats off to you!
Cabbers are in a different world--my friend plows his drive with the heat blasting in a t-shirt listening to sirius on bluetooth... I wear three layers under raingear and shooting muffs to help keep my ears warm and have to beat the numbness out of my fingers.
Of course I bushhog trails, cut wood and do other activities that would doom a cab.
Your friends cab is taking care of his UV, hearing, eye protection and climate control.

 

[N2DFire]

Always Gloves, Hat (mostly a full brim style but sometimes just a ball cap), and sun glasses that are ANSI impact rated. Even if I'm the guy on the ground and Dad's on the tractor.

Hearing protection depends on the job. If I'm working alone and/or will be at a continuous throttle setting (monotonous drone) - like mowing - I'll add hearing protection. If I'm working with someone on the ground I want to be able to hear them just in case I get in a position I can't see them.

Respiratory I haven't really bothered with but after a bout of grappling up moldy hay and then being sick for three weeks (I already have "environmental allergies" to begin with) - I think I'll look into it.

Having had over 27 years in Fire/EMS in a rural farming community I can tell you first hand that bad stuff happens fast & when you least expect it & the best outcome is when you're geared up & prepared for it before it happens.

Stay safe everybody.

 

[plowhog]

Very smart to use the gear. This week I was weed eating my ditches wearing a hat, clear plastic goggles, and ear plugs. At some point a noxious weed part flew into my mouth and lodged in the back of my throat. I immediately started coughing so hard and for so long I wondered if I would need to go to the ER or if I would even make it to the ER. Dust mask is my new addition when weed eating. Not sure if it was star thistle or what, it was a bad experience.

 

[JRobyn]

This thread got me to wondering, along with the occasional thread about overheating due to the "chaff" in the radiator when mowing; how does one keep the cab AC working when the condenser coil (and evaporator) is plugged with the same chaff?? I assume they also have screens/filters?

 

[Sysop]

ya do the same to them as the radiator. Spray it out with compressed air every few hours.

 

[cat fever]

I'm safety minded also; when doing dusty work I switch from outside air to circulation mode on the AC.:laughing:

 

[cat fever]

Very smart to use the gear. This week I was weed eating my ditches wearing a hat, clear plastic goggles, and ear plugs. At some point a noxious weed part flew into my mouth and lodged in the back of my throat. I immediately started coughing so hard and for so long I wondered if I would need to go to the ER or if I would even make it to the ER. Dust mask is my new addition when weed eating. Not sure if it was star thistle or what, it was a bad experience.

I was also doing some weed eater work. Had the same thing happen to me. (a few times) I just kept my mouth shut after the 3rd time.

When I'm using the weed eater I always wear a hat, safety glasses, earplugs and leather gloves. I'd like to use goggles but I think they would be fogged up so bad I couldn't see.

 

[Sysop]

Some with allergies have a hard time closing their mouth as they can't breathe normally through their nose. I see lots of guys wearing stuff similar to this:
Amazon.com: Safety Works Adjustable Headgear with Faceshield: SAFETY WORKS: Home Improvement

 

[cat fever]

Some with allergies have a hard time closing their mouth as they can't breathe normally through their nose. I see lots of guys wearing stuff similar to this:
Amazon.com: Safety Works Adjustable Headgear with Faceshield: SAFETY WORKS: Home Improvement

I might look into something like that.
Luckily, I only trim my fence line once per year. Once summer comes it will not grow anymore. I wait till it turns yellow and trim--good till the next year. My lawn is never a problem with "flying debris".

 

[scdeerslayer]

For weed eating I use a clear face shield with ear muffs. Howard Leight brand I believe. Bought it as a mesh chainsaw face shield but small particles would go through it. Found a clear shield that would fit it. You'd think they'd make a clear face shield with ear muffs but they are very hard to find, most everything is either a mesh shield or doesn't have ear muffs. The one I bought I couldn't find where it came with the clear face shield, it was only sold separately.

 

[Sysop]

They are more common with the mesh shield, but the plexi ones are not so rare they are hard to find. Amazon has them too.

Jasper Browguard Face Shield Clear Visor with Ear Muffs - ANSI Z87.1 CE EN1731 - - Amazon.com

 

[kebo]

I always wear hearing protection, my hearing has already been damaged, so I'm trying to save what I have left. Also, I usually wear either sunglasses or sometimes tinted safety glasses, and gloves. I typically don't wear a cap, as I have a canopy on my tractor. The dust doesn't bother me too much, so I don't feel the need to wear dust mask.

 

[cabover4us]

To scdeerslayer, up here we have a company called "Safety Warehouse" they carry everything known to man or woman in regards to safety. But, what I use personally is Elvic Brand of spring loaded face shield and attached ear muffs mounted on a helmet. I use this setup delivering cyrogenic liquids. Been using this arrangement for 22 years and haven't had any issues. Peltor is another brand of ear muffs that have a high noise rating. Unfortunately, haven't had to wear any PPE for a while due to this streak of nothing but RAIN....my three acre's is just about a foot high....

 

[Turbys_1700]

Several years ago I had two polyps removed the size of apricots from my nasal cavities. In addition the surgeon straighten out a deviated septum. Once I had the surgery I was placed on a daily regimen of Fluticasione Propionate and Montelukast Sodium in addition to allergy shots. It has really helped. I never really believed in allergy doctors until this episode. I can attest to their effectiveness in helping my condition. I still wear sunshades and hearing protection when on the tractor but don't wear a mask.

 

[TheMan419]

Always always hearing protection. I use the same muffs I use for shooting. I also have the little foam ones you jam in your ear for other people that need them. Leather gloves and denim pants. I will go short sleeve if it is hot and just use sun screen. Baseball cap. I cannot seem to get a wide brim hat on with the ear muffs. I might switch to a wide brim and the foam ear plugs.