Cautioning your Family about Operations

[GeoHorn]

I get that the operator's attention can be divided when backdragging with the bucket, and that one tends to get into a complacent rhythm going back and forth, but she followed you as you were driving forward, stopped when you stopped and then you backed into her. Yes she could have hit the horn and maybe you would have heard it over the tractor, but I'm not really seeing how it was in any way her fault.

I'm going to suggest you add a step to your routine: Have a look in the intended direction of travel before setting the machine in motion.

Torch, I get it that you have it in your mind whatever you had that prompted you to post that…. But the fact is …. I was working in the middle of my 1500-acre ranch. It’s a MILE LONG road from the ranch security entrance-gate to where I was working and a full Quarter-Mile of straight drive from where she first saw me going back and forth working that gravel. Like many folks, my wife dirves her car looking only about 30-feet in front of her hood…and since I know that‘s the way she drives it’s entirely my own fault that I didn’t anticipate this sequence of events. (stoopid me)
YES… I agree that I’m partially responsible for the incident… but MAINLY because I had failed to ever instruct her never to approach me from behind if I’m working the tractor. It was secondarily my own damn fault for not setting out orange safety-cones, roping off the area with yellow “caution” tape, and not posting reflective-vest-attired traffic-marshallers 360-degrees around my worksite.
Next time Butch says “let’s go to Bolivia…. then lets GO to Bolivia!”

Next time!

 

[nbryan]

Something about "keep your head on a swivel"......

I have developed a persistent habit of glancing back behind me and the tractor as soon as my foot hits the reverse pedal.

ALWAYS.

It's like growing the proverbial eyes on the back of your head.

SMART PEOPLE WITH TRACTOR SAFETY EDUCATION STILL MAKE MISTAKES OR HAVE ACCIDENTS.

And things out of anyone's control happen, with the end result of something being behind you suddenly since last look.

LOOK BACK FIRST. Then there's zero "wondering when she'll show up" issues.

 

[orange crusher]

I was blowing a rather deep snow at my rental when the renter walked to the mailbox. He got the mail and proceeded to stand there in front of me and read it while I sat there with the equipment running at WOT and he was totally oblivious to the world. And he is allowed to vote.

..........and breed too !!!!!!!!

 

[lynnmor]

..........and breed too !!!!!!!!

I actually lost this renter to his breeding habits, his litter outgrew the small house. It is a good family but he is totally unaware of his surroundings.

 

[Crash277]

head on a swivel for sure!! my wife and kids have received a safety brief on interrupting my tractoring.. 90% of the time I am wearing bluetooth ear defenders and i will turn my ringer on on my phone so they can call or message me and generally when i get to the end of something (ie dumping the bucket) i will check it if it beeped. look at the machine like you would a helicopter. The key is always EYE CONTACT

 

[NCL4701]

I have been the guy on the machine (not always Kubota) for many years as well as the guy doing grunt work while others were on the machine for just as many. Have also investigated numerous equipment v worker accidents. It’s a shared responsibility. Crash277’s post is on point. At least in NC, even the courts agree it’s a shared responsibility.

Anyone who may be around working equipment needs to understand that or they need to stay well out of the area until the machine is shut down and operator leaves the operating station.

 

[Magicman]

I knew a grandfather that backed over and killed his young grandson. The details are unimportant but the tragedy was real and he never recovered.

 

[RCW]

As a dairy farm kid, the hazards were many.

Was common for kids to start operating tractors and machinery at a very young age.

Had classmates hurt and killed on their farms.

Only takes a second.

 

[torch]

GeoHorn,-

I'm apologize for any offense my post caused. I offered it in the spirit of constructive criticism and did not intend to sound disparaging. I know how easily one can get focused on the task at hand. In my line, we refer to "tunnel vision" and "candle-moth syndrome" when we talk about the importance of remembering to take in the big picture too. I have experienced it myself, on more than one occasion.

From your description of the incident, I saw a missed opportunity to avoid the accident and think there is a lesson there for all of us. We can't control the actions of others, but we can try to modify our own habits to account for the unexpected.

 

[Crash277]

GeoHorn,-

I'm apologize for any offense my post caused. I offered it in the spirit of constructive criticism and did not intend to sound disparaging. I know how easily one can get focused on the task at hand. In my line, we refer to "tunnel vision" and "candle-moth syndrome" when we talk about the importance of remembering to take in the big picture too. I have experienced it myself, on more than one occasion.

From your description of the incident, I saw a missed opportunity to avoid the accident and think there is a lesson there for all of us. We can't control the actions of others, but we can try to modify our own habits to account for the unexpected.

thats one item very few consider when doing any task. i found sometimes id be working away on the BH and you get into a groove where youre barely even thinking. thats when i take a break. even if its just 2 min. hop off get a drink and hop back on.

 

[Lil Foot]

This kinda hit home.
Been dealing with some family issues and was backing out of the garage in kind of a hurry with some food & stuff. Thankfully I was looking back because the 75+yr old woman from across the street that my wife & I help out was coming up the driveway, about 12-15ft behind me. Had I not been paying attention....
She saw the garage door go up and came to check on us, and she never thought about coming up the drive directly behind the car.
It ended well, but was still scary.

 

[D2Cat]

I use my tractor in various conditions so I added a mirror on each side. Saves the constant turning to see what's back there.

 

[lynnmor]

I use my tractor in various conditions so I added a mirror on each side. Saves the constant turning to see what's back there.

I bought a pair just like that, but I have no tractor.

 

[NCL4701]

I bought a pair just like that, but I have no tractor.

Look on the bright side. You don’t have to be concerned with all this tractor safety stuff since you don’t have a tractor.

 

[GeoHorn]

GeoHorn,-

I'm apologize for any offense my post caused. I offered it in the spirit of constructive criticism and did not intend to sound disparaging. I know how easily one can get focused on the task at hand. In my line, we refer to "tunnel vision" and "candle-moth syndrome" when we talk about the importance of remembering to take in the big picture too. I have experienced it myself, on more than one occasion.

From your description of the incident, I saw a missed opportunity to avoid the accident and think there is a lesson there for all of us. We can't control the actions of others, but we can try to modify our own habits to account for the unexpected.

Torch,…absolutely NO OFFENSE taken at your comments…. The ‘net just don’t carry voice inflections or my ‘tongue-in-cheek’ smart-Azz response would have been clearer.
My original post should show everyone that I have a degree of safety-consciousness …or I wouldn’t have vulnerably shared my story…. and I simply wanted to let everyone have a reminder WE ALL SHARE the responsibility to keep our loved ones SAFE and that included keeping them INFORMED as well as looking-out for them while we’re operating.
It’s clearly my fault for not having already taught her the hazards of approaching the tractor and also my fault for not looking back EACH TIME I reversed. (Unfortunately I’m in my 70s and the neck don’t wanna turn like it did in earlier times. I can barely look 45-degrees left/right and although I installed an overhead mirror under my canopy…. I failed to check it EACH time I reversed.
Not blaming anyone but myself for this one… just revealing how the danger wasn’t apparent to others also.
Thanks for the comments.

 

[mcmxi]

So she stopped and held her position and panicked/frozen as I backed into her car.

Sounds like she was stuck on the first O of the OODA Loop. The "obvious" action under the circumstances would be for her to back up quickly, but without training, continuous training and practice, most of us are doomed to fall into the same trap of inaction.

O - Observe
O - Orient
D - Decide
A - Act

 

[mcmxi]

I cut grass for a friend who's a pilot for a billionaire up here as well as a flying instructor. He took me flying for 2-1/2 hours a few weeks ago in a Top Cub and we talked about his mental process when taking off. He has a mental flow chart of what he'll do if A, B or C happens at X, Y or Z altitude. We could all practice this in numerous day to day situations. What would you do if .....

 

[airbiscuit]

When I had a skid steer, there was always a lot of backing up and rear visibility wasn't great. I installed a wide rear view mirror and tried to remember to check it every time I went in reverse. In the case of an incident when one vehicle backs into a stationary vehicle, the fault is 90% the person who didn't look before backing up.

Your post is a good lesson for us all.

 

[jimh406]

I do worry about running over stuff. We’ve trained the dogs and grandkids to fully avoid all vehicles. One of the main benefits of an open station is more situational awareness. I do wonder if someone some day is going to run into me on the gravel road where we live when I’m doing maintenance to it. But, there is usually a big cloud of dust where I am. I think that’s early warning to them.

 

[orange crusher]

I bought a pair just like that, but I have no tractor.

Better get yourself a hard hat and 2 helmet cam mounts, modify them and your all set...........................Then you can hop back in the sand box and away you go !!!!!!