Re: Safety Issues??

Posted by Chuck in WA on April 04, 2002 at 09:25:54 from (130.20.127.170):

In Reply to: Safety Issues?? posted by Bill in Ontario on April 03, 2002 at 06:19:55:

It's a long one...

I'm very conservative when it comes to safety - one might say paranoid - so in general appreciate benefiting from the experience of others. I am particularly cautious with fire hazards. I have two or three observations regarding a safety discussion group.

1. It seems like we don't usually go looking for safety advice on a particular point. For example, I probably wouldn't go out looking for precautions related to hitching a blade to my tractor's 3-point because I have a reasonable amount or mechanical ability, a reasonable amount of general mechanical experience, pretty fair common sense, and as mentioned above, am fairly conservative regarding safety - even though I am a very green tractor newbie! It just doesn't look like an operation that has much potential hazard, but, for all I know, this could be a process that has dangers unique to tractors. Of course, thinking I know that it's intrinsically safe is how accidents happen.

The point is, it's the personal experiences y'all relate and the replies to them that are valuable to me when one hits close to home, and even if not, might stick in my mind and be remembered if and when I find myself in that situation. The chain top link mentioned in two posts is a good example if I am understanding what that is, and leads to my second observation.

2. You experienced guys (I won't say old because I'm almost 60 but still a tractor newbie - all of about two weeks!) know what a lot of this terminology means, but you're not the ones who would benefit most from safety stories as another poster pointed out - that's not to say that some of you wouldn't benefit. Being as green as I am, some of what I read in the few examples mentioned in this thread went right by me because I didn't know what you were talking about - rops? What in the world is that? :)

Another example is that when I went by it the first time, chain top link didn't ring a bell. When it went by again, it started to sink in and I think I know what it means - using a chain to connect to the top point of the 3-point hitch? - but am not sure. You two who mentioned it raise a red flag, but didn't say what was bad or why it was dangerous. That little extra explanation would help. I'm sure you experienced guys know what was implied, but we newbies don't.

I once had a clevis pop when pulling a log with a pickup and was fortunate to not be where the shrapnel went, so understand the general danger of things under stress breaking, but don't see a specific danger in chain top links if connected properly and of adequate strength. Just an extra line or two elaborating for the benefit of us newbies would be easy enough for you, and might make all the difference for some of us.

The other poster had it right. Some of us weren't blessed with a lifetime on the farm where some of this became second nature to you, but we're the ones who need most to understand.

It reminds me of the old story about the woman who always cut the end off the roast before putting it in the roaster. When her daughter asked why, she sais that her mom had always done that and her roasts were wonderful, but she got to wondering so asked her mom. Mom said, well, your granny always cut the end off her roasts and they were always just the tastiest I've ever had - but she also wondered and asked granny. Granny, after hearing the whole story, said "Why you dummies! I didn't have a very big roasting pan and the roasts never quite fit, so I had to cut the end off to get them in." The point is, tell me why it's hazardous. It might be just common sense, but your common sense may be based on 50 or 60 years on the farm, and mine is based on a couple of weeks of owning a tractor. It will sink in better if I know why.

One other question that's not an observation regarding the original post - I am contemplating chaining up a fair size rock and dragging it with my M-F 35. Other than making sure it's securely fastened and that the chain is adequate to the job, are there other pointers? Is this totally foolish as implied, and if so, why? Is there a safe way to do it? This is one of those cases where my common sense tells me to be cautious, but that it can be done safely. Am I wrong?

Thanks for tolerating this newbie, and for your comments. This is a great community of courteous and helpful people!

Bottom line is that I think safety stories related as part of the regular groups is great. I also think that a dedicated safety discussion group would attract people as well, but while I probably wouldn't be a regular contributor, I would probably lurk. To succeed, there have to be you experienced guys - a bunch of newbies telling newbies what's dangerous doesn't help.

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