The Forestry Forum

Health and Safety => Health and Safety => Topic started by: petefrom bearswamp on June 20, 2017, 06:47:25 PM

Title: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: petefrom bearswamp on June 20, 2017, 06:47:25 PM
Yesterday while moving logs around my yard I had an 8 footer roll off the pile and get in my way of moving the logs.
Went back and didn't move it but took a small 8 footer off of the pile  and started backing up mindful of the log that was in the way.
Kept watching that log and backing up, but didn't take my hand off of the hyd lever and cranked it all the way up.
Looked up just in time to see it coming off of the forks directly at me.
Had time enough to say no no no when it rolled into the steering wheel of my Kubota.
I'm still here to type this which proves that deity looks after kids and old fools.
Thank my lucky stars that Kubota builds substantial machinery
Didnt sleep very well last night and havent told the wife yet.
Sawed today but was kind of jittery.
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: thecfarm on June 20, 2017, 06:49:57 PM
You need a stop on that back of the forks!!!!!!!!  :o
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: Ox on June 20, 2017, 06:59:21 PM
Yep - God was watching.  It was a gentle warning I think.  It's weird how our body will do something without us knowing it.  You can do that same maneuver 10,000 times over the course of 50 years or something like that and be perfectly good at it but one "off day" and it all changes. 

Glad you're OK.  You'll be right as rain here in a few days.  And you'll likely be twice as slow and twice as careful on your machine from here on out for a few weeks then you'll get back in your old groove.

Close calls is how we become more wise in our ever increasing age.  I think this is how we become that old timer that just seems to know everything.  Or at least this is partly why...
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: Chuck White on June 20, 2017, 09:28:22 PM
Pete;  You need to install some log-stops on your loader bucket, forks, or whatever you're using to move logs!

I recall hearing that there were two people in this area, years ago that had the same thing occur, unfortunately neither one survived, the first one was with a log, the second was with a large, round hay bale!

Glad you're ok, let it be a warning and now, get your nerves settled down.  Sit still and have a cool "Adult Beverage"!
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: sawguy21 on June 20, 2017, 10:01:26 PM
I have done that, concentrated on where I was going and forgot to let go of the lever. I almost rolled the tractor. It is a DanG good reminder to pay attention, mistakes like that can hurt.
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: submarinesailor on June 20, 2017, 11:50:48 PM
I did almost the same thing but with a load of roofing shingles.  Tilted too far back and had a bundle come off and just miss me.  Had to pay for a new hood for a borrowed tractor too.  Those type of JD parts aren't cheap.
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: Hilltop366 on June 21, 2017, 08:08:34 AM
Glad your ok, you can just throw those shorts out and buy new ones!

Tractors have roll bars on them but I think a bar should be required in the front when equipped with a loader especially loaders without a auto levelling bucket.
Title: Re: Nearly bought the farm, stupidity and carelessness
Post by: petefrom bearswamp on June 21, 2017, 08:20:38 AM
the forks have a back to them but when it is tilted all the way back and the loader is at max height it still rolled off.
Not sure how I could attach anything substantial to the apparatus that would work as i transport lumber stacks that extend above the back of the fork shield.
there was damage to the steering apparatus and reversing shuttle lever that I will have to have repaired and the exhaust stack was bent back, but i was able to return it to the original position without much problem.
Only personal damage was to my ego as I was too careless.
Limb risers such as on skidders are a possibility.
this is further proof that anyone is just one stupid mistake away from eternity