Nasty chipper accident

[geoff]

Nasty accident,take good care out there everyone.

[Ty Korrigan]

That...

Is just the stuff of nightmares and Frenchmen.

When I saw a co-worker standing in the hopper kicking lumps into the infeed rollers I decided I couldn't work with these idiots anymore.

I imagine there is a specialist company someplace responsible for cleaning up after such incidents.

I just wouldn't know where to begin if it was my own machine/employee

Imagine the effects on those who must pick up the pieces (no joke to be found here)

When my CS100 jams and one of use must crawl into the hopper to free it I always remove the keys...

Ty

[Scottie]

As I use Bandits, I can't imagine climbing into the hopper and using my feet to push something through. It would take more effort to do that than use the push board. What was the guy thinking or was it just 'a moment of madness'? I am sure he won't be able to explain why he had to it. I am sure we all have done something like that just to make the job quicker.

 

Just like Ty said when ever we get a blockage, everything is shut down and the key removed. I have sliced my hand open enough times by just changing the blades on the damn thing!

 

My thoughts go out to him and his family. It has been a life changing event which could have been easily avoided with a bit of patience.

 

Let me put something out there to you all. How many of you leave the chipper running unattended when you are dragging brash and it isn't in eye contact, say it is round the other side of the house to the garden you are working in? I admit I do it all the time but I am always worried that some-one will 'un-intentionaly' do them selves some damage and then try and claim. Does that sound too far fetched?

[RobRainford]

I reflect green mans comments.

 

I never intended to offend anybody, if it did I apologise too. It was late for me so I just put what was first thought of.

 

It's a horrible ordeal, I can't imagine how you could feel during any part of that situation.

 

I never want a situation like this to happen to anybody I work with. Whenever someone starts reaching into chippers either to grab something out that won't go through or push that little log in, I always have my Hand on the reverse roller button. As much bad practice reaching in is, I'd rather be able to keep my colleagues uninjured than maimed or even killed.

 

Thoughts out to the guy and his family!

[PeteB]

I've read all the posts on this subject, I still really misunderstand how the poor chap could be in such a state of mind that he could intentionally risk his limbs and his families livelihood to chip an awkward price of wood that demanded that he take such an unnecessary risk!

Having damaged a finger, thumb, elbows and a knee taking a gamble as a 20-30 year old for such a small profit, perhaps I'm a share wiser. Perhaps being older and maybe wiser than a few younger members and having been around and having paid for machinery for the past 27 years I'm less tolerant of "accidents".

 

I feel sorry for the lads family but I feel no remorse for my previous rant. I'm sorry if my views offend, but if they prevent 1 similar occurrence - then I'm happy even though I may have lost a few friends.

Edited March 10, 2011 by PeteB

[Stephen Blair]

The worst chipper for this i have seen is the big pto farmis, low to the ground, huge hopper and a top stop bar I have witnessed lads pushing rings in eith both feet, never my jobs just 1's I have stopped to watch, I have pointed this out to the foreman , he just shrugged his shoulders. Shocking!!

Edited March 10, 2011 by Stephen Blair

[kimtree]

bad news for all concerned,hope the bloke has some form of quality of life again

ive had workers do pretty stupid things with chippers even after all the operating procedures and proccesses have been drummed in to them

like one dickhead who used his foot to shove a log in no good shouting at them from the tree they cant hear you

you can lead a horse to water but not make him drink

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

Should woodchipper firms legally supply a decent wooden "Push Stick" for tree workers to use instead of arms/legs?

 

Could an infra red beam be mounted inside the hopper which would stop the machine if it found a human?

 

Terrible news but I am sure that 80% of accidents are human error often due to working long hours under stress thinking about bills and the additional 20% of accidents caused by defects on machines.

 

Machines should not be left running alone in case children appeared on the work site.

[Ross Beaumont]

nasty. hope he mends soon

[Matthew Arnold]

Should woodchipper firms legally supply a decent wooden "Push Stick" for tree workers to use instead of arms/legs?

 

Could an infra red beam be mounted inside the hopper which would stop the machine if it found a human?Terrible news but I am sure that 80% of accidents are human error often due to working long hours under stress thinking about bills and the additional 20% of accidents caused by defects on machines.

 

Machines should not be left running alone in case children appeared on the work site.

 

That would be ideal. Maybe the "FLIR" system in the police and search and rescue helicopters or similar and smaller. Everytime it detects a heat source it stops the feed rollers and you have to reset the system by the push of the forward feed controller.