A 49 year old farmer friend of the family was killed this past weekend when he was trying to pull a tree stump out by chaining around the upper seat area of the tractor. The stump was too tough and his leverage too low to keep the front wheels on the ground on this relatively small tractor. The tractor rolled over on him and he was discovered by family members as he was pinned beneath the seat and with the weight of the tractor on his body. Now I don't pull heavy stuff to begin with using my 8N but it is a tragedy. The investigating team members and contact advised me that a ROPS system was actually available for these N tractors --- I was not aware to be honest with you as I have never seen one equipped. I must say that I have had an N dip unxpectedly and did one time manage to get my boot temporarily pinned under the brake pedals as I mistakenly ran over a stump and it shoved the pedals down on my boot --- luckily I shutdown the tractor and got off of it without a scrape. I -ALWAYS- ever single time I get off this tractor --- I check the PTO gear is off and tractor shutdown and out of gear. Every single time. It is simply not worth my life nor the lives of others.
These tractors almost all of them are EXTREMELY dangerous machines that require a tremendous amount of respect, awareness and safety-minded thought. I guess sometimes it takes something close to home to hit to realize (again) how dangerous these machines can be.
Well, just wanted to share this with you all. I am sorry for the family's loss.
Andy
These tractors almost all of them are EXTREMELY dangerous machines that require a tremendous amount of respect, awareness and safety-minded thought. I guess sometimes it takes something close to home to hit to realize (again) how dangerous these machines can be.
Well, just wanted to share this with you all. I am sorry for the family's loss.
Andy