Mark's accident has got me thinking, like most all of you, I suppose. I have a couple of little bitty things I routinely do to help me stay safe. There is a wealth of other little tricks out there that should be discussed, as well.
One thing I do is to hang my safety glasses on the ignition key of the mill. Kinda hard to forget them if ya gotta move'em to start it up. :) :) Doing this has gotten me in the habit of using them, and I feel nekkid without them if I'm using other tools, now.
I also use wheel chocks a lot. Since my truck is manual shift, and the e-brake isn't very good, I chock it whenever there is a doubt. This has gotten me into the habit of chocking the forklift and the tractor as well.
Safety is heavily dependant on habit, so we have to cultivate good habits. Anybody else got any little tricks to share?
I've been thinking about Mark, too.
WHEEL CHOCKS > USE'M
FRONT and BACK
EVERYTIME !
For a tandem trailer you just need one triangular one with a handle on top .....
I got one for ya . Wear your hearing protection also . It is a shame the amount of older gentlemen I know that are pretty much deaf . This is directly attributed to repeated exposure to loud noises ( chain saws , hammer drills , farm equipment and heavy machinery ) .
I have been told by countless Safety Directors that the first range of hearing to go is the tone of a womans voice . Every time I am told this I comment that it is called selective hearing and they aren't impressed .
I am in the habit of wearing steel toed boots , hard hat , safety glasses , hearing protection and dust mask or 1/2 mask respirator daily at my regular job so it is pretty much second nature to me .
Working with Cowboy Bob loading horses and cattle and operating the farm equipment.....the "escape route" is becoming second nature. Animals can be so unpredictable that Bob would always ask, "Which way are you going, if you have to get out?" Whether it was up, over, or through.....I had to name a safe area (and so did he) before we move in on any critter. As we work through loading, the safe area might change, but we call to each other exactly what our intentions are, every step of the way. I can't count the number of times an animal has turned unexpectedly and those escape routes were used. Then, it's slowly and calmly back to square one, and we have to start the process all over again. I've learned patience like I never learned it in all those years before. Cowboy Bob says, "If ya git in a rush, you'll get hurt." I've watched him take nearly an hour to set up the environment so that even the most contrary bull walks onto that trailer because Bob had all the possibilities covered. You learn to think AHEAD of doing anything, and you never put yourself in a corner.
I remember being told about another livestock hauler that was killed when he was pinned between the trailer door and the barn and the cows hit that door.
I've taken these lessons and even applied them when I drive to work. If I find myself hurrying because I'm late, I ask myself if being on time is worth risking my life, or someone elses life. I always look for which direction I'll go if I get suddenly cut off by the driver in front, or what if a deer steps onto the highway.
You can't prevent all accidents....but slowing down and thinking the entire situation through BEFORE you are into a situation and planning your next move, might help.
Cowboy Bob's got it right. Hurry will git ya dead! He's dealing with unpredictable animals that are large and strong enough to hurt him. We are dealing with unpredictable logs and machinery that are large and strong enough to hurt us. Same difference. Ya gotta think ahead of all the things that could go wrong, do what ya can ta head'em off, and be ready to get outta tha way. Don't ever be afraid to start over.
Roxie, you and Cowboy Bob have got it right. You will live a lot longer and more comfortably. Mark's accident brought to mind a number of near calls I have seen and been involved in. I am sure he was a concientious person but it only takes a moment of inattention or distraction.
At Ryder Truck they had a saying "chock and lock" when working on a vehicle. Chock two wheels (I like front and back of two wheels) and put a lock on the mirror and hang the keys off them. Nothing stinks worse then having a vehicle move or fall on you while you are underneath and to have the keys in your pants pocket. Makes rescue a bit more difficult. Plus, that way the vehicle can't be accidently started AND you think about how everything is set up safety wise instead of rushing a job.
I have yet to see a customer walk through the door with the saw bar facing to the rear. I do it and suggest it when selling the saw. If I trip, I won't fall on a sharp chain. I also never carry a running saw.
I am a lefty and used to drop start the big saws with the bar next to my leg. One day a new hole appeared in my jeans right below the pocket which contained my keys and some change. Never did that again. :o
When using hydraulics and depending on someone else to hook the device up, be conscience of his presence and take your hands off of the valve handles.
An example would be hooking up a log to lifting tongs suspended from a boom. When there is an individual below the boom or one who has his hands on the tongs, don't touch the valve handles until he moves away. A slight slip could crush his hands or his body.
Sudden movements of booms will sling chain or cable suspended weights in a wide arc and could take the head off of your best friend.
Tom, I got bopped by a concrete guardrail section doing that. I reached up to stop it from swinging just as my buddy, who could not see me, moved the swing control. The only smart thing I did that day was wear the hardhat. ::)
A little thing that everyone should do is always securely block up any equipment you will be working under. Yesterday morning just north of here a salvage yard owner was killed underneath an old pickup he had lifted by a bumper mount with his wrecker winch. He had no jackstands or blocks underneath the pickup when the bumper mount broke. His mother, who lives next door, found him. That has to be a parent's worst nightmare, and one that was easily preventable.
I have a couple of things to say here.
1. Thanks Roxie. I have heard very few people talk about others when discussing driving. 2 years ago a guy pulled out in front of me at a stop sign. He was 1 mile from home and in a hurry to get his son home to his birthday party. I "t'd" his pickup at 65 mph. The last thing I saw was the look on his son's face as I slammed into the front of his truck. All I can say is that I'm glad God doesn't have any overtime restrictions. My guardian angle saved my bacon. No one was seriously hurt. They both walked away without a scratch. I bummed up my leg and limped around for about a year or so. We ended up totaling his 3/4 ton ford and It destroyed my dakota. No reason I should have lived. no reason at all. set the engin in the front seat and bent my frame 4 inches. Always look a second time at intersections nothing is so important.
2. I use my chainsaw helmet when sawmilling. I hang it on the control lever that starts the blad that way I always have my face shield and hearing protection.
3. I know this may sound silly but I always let someone know when I'm going out to fell trees. I set a time to be home and make sure to keep it. That way someone knows to come looking if I'm late. Keep your cell phone and a compression dressing in your pocket.
I dont think #3 is Silly.......Its Good thinking! :)
I take a two way radio into the woods with me that I can talk to my wife at the house with.
Will
Part-Timer, I do the same thing when I go fishing alone. Not that I get to do a lot of fishing DanG it.
sawguy21
I haven't seen a pole in 2 years However we leave in 2 weeks for Boyscout camp. Boys do their thing during the day and us leaders plan on fishing all day for 5 days 8) 8) 8)
I used to walk the mountains by myself in the North - not the brightest thing, but there was normally plenty of people also on the trails.
Down here, I wouldn't think about it (ok, I do think about it...) because it is much more dangerous. I don't know anything down here so I bring people with me.
I prefer to be alone, but some things just are not the best idea.
Good thread DanG , I guess everything I do or touch can kill me in a instant but what I really see alot of is oncoming traffic drifting across the line diggin on the radio or talkin on the cell phone . Tailgating ! Highway stuff . Young/old,male /female it just dont matter some people drive with a death wish over their heads so thats my tip for everyone , keep alert and concentrate on driving and driving only until the vehicle is turned off !
Heard a report on the news that a local arborist was badly hurt in a fall. It seems he cut his rope with his chainsaw and fell fifty feet, landing on his back on a sidewalk. Can't believe he lived! Musta been a tough sonofagun!
Not bright, but tough! ::)
For a while I rock climbed and it was true, it was usually the experienced climbers who would have the bad accidents. After a while your brain goes out to lunch because you get bored having done the same thing a million times.
Believe it or not, one of the most dangerous things you can do is rapell - which should be as simple as anything. People do the craziest things - like not making sure the rope is long enough. Rapelling beyond the end of your rope is not a good thing. Air doesn't have a lot of friction.
Simple stuff I think is what keeps you alive, and not getting too proud to check yourself each and every time.
I knew a really good rock climber who now refuses to climb anything higher than 20 feet. He was walking along with a guy and the person just stepped off a cliff - the guy was lucky, his harness caught on something about 30 feet down. Hurt him pretty good, but he ended up being okay. Very experienced and smart climber - just wasn't paying attention. The guy with him decided it could have easily been him.
Heard something on the news a few years ago about a child falling several stories on to hard concrete. He landed flat of his back, the diaper exploded, the child had no broken bones or injuries.
Yeah, there was a child that fell out a fourth floor window in GR a couple weeks ago, just a black eye and a couple bruises.
Quotea local arborist was badly hurt in a fall
Dan;
Have you got a news source for this? Thanks.
Kev, I caught the brief story on one of the Panama City tv stations. I guess they got a newspaper over there. ??? It happened several days ago. I'll poke around a bit and post back if I find anything.
I checked their newspaper, but their archives haven't been updated since last week. :-\
Part-timer, if my wife found out that I went to cut trees or even run the mill by myself without leaving a specified time to check in, it would be safer to stay gone. :D ;D ::)
A little tidbit for anyone looking at getting new two-way radios.
Several manufacturers now have units that are a combination of a two-way and a GPS unit, they are not only DanG handy, but have a really handy feature that could be a real lifesaver. There is a function that allows you to beam your location to another unit. The receiving unit merely has to push a button and the their unit will guide them straight to the sending unit.
I have a set of these and use them to stay in touch with the missus. I had a little spell come on and needed my meds, not just the nitro I carry everywhere. I didn't even have to speak, I just pushed a button and she was there in a flash.
Knowing someone is in trouble is a good thing, knowing where they are is better still. ;)
That would be great to have when alone in the woods, sawing as sometimes happens. Leaving one unit at home.
Could the other unit be located if it wasn't activated (but turned on)? I'm thinking if your partner didn't 'come home' or show up, and wasn't trying to reach you, could you still home-in on their location?
I'd like to have something like that on some of my tools. Then I may be able to find them better (if I can find the first unit). ;D
Real good question. ::)
I'll haf'ta read the instructions, not nearly as much fun as just pushin' da buttons ta see what happens, but I'll try it anyways. :D
I see to remember bein' told by the feller I bought it from it could be used that way, but I think it sends out a signal every coupla minutes when it's set that way. If there was a "where are you?" button that would give a location that would be handy.
I originally got them for hunting, that way we could tell each other where we were without speaking out loud.
That's really neat, Murf! 8) 8) How does the recieving unit report the location? Compass heading & distance? :P
You have 3 ways to view the info., as a bearing and distance, as a "goto" point, or as a north & easting.
As a 'goto' you have your choice of line-of-sight, or over the road directions, turn by turn.
If you're patient enough you do the same thing if two people have GPS units and radios, but it's a bunch more finger-pokin' and hollerin' back & forth.
I was reading about a new navigation system for cars that works similar, it sends the location over the cell phone to another vehicle.
With my luck, I'd git the location for tha' da missus and pass her halfway there as she was drivin' ta were I used was be! :D
A two way radio with GPS that tells the other hand unit where it's at would be great. My son takes one of ours with him when he's riding, but I always worry about finding him if I ever had to without his help.