Farm accident stories...be careful folks!!

exercise is the antidote · 22-03-2014 11:10pm #1

Thought it might be a good idea for people to share there stories of near accidents or lucky escapes on the farm as it might open everybody's eyes to how dangerous farming is...and to stop taking risks..

had a heifer try to jump over my neighbour today as he was trying to change her direction, she knocked him to the ground and narrowly missed standing on him(thank god)..She then proceeded to hit a old gate off it's hindges like it wasn't there.. Could of ended a lot worse!

Reggie. · 22-03-2014 11:15pm

Got pinned to a corner of a pen one time by a springer. Lucky to get my hands out to her head before she struck and I suffered a sore wrist rather than broken ribs.

Greengrass1 · 22-03-2014 11:18pm

Good idea.
Nearly feel through a skylight when was about 10. Only for the father catching me. 20ft plus of a drop.
Crashed quad into a stake and flew up in air and fell on my neck. Lucky to be alive.
Clearing a wood when I was about 14 and lad on. Digger was pulling out trees with a chain I was standing on one he was about to pull and didn't know. Bang 30ft in the air and landed on my collerbone and broke it and damaged my back.
Plus loads of other minor ones.
Dangerous vocation when ye think about it.
Have had a good few kicks in the head also off cows

colrow · 22-03-2014 11:24pm

Before I moved here I had only experienced handling Jersy cows, they could be heading full pelt at me, all you had to do was stand there with arms out stetched and they'd stop.

We had a couple of limo heifers, they were not keen on handling, thenwe let out the donkey with them, and he thought he chased them both ragged, trying to mount them, he grabbed one of them biting its nexk as theydo. He went llike an express train and cleared a two foot sone wall topped with 3 foot sheep fencing into next doors field.

The neighbour helped me drive him out into his drive and he ran down to the house, he came charging back up and I stood there with my arms out stretched, I was thinking I'll showoff my skills, John Joe roared get out of its effing way. I stepped sideways I'd have been seriously injured in my ignorance, I was shaking like a leaf

biddy2013 · 22-03-2014 11:25pm

broken ankle
dislocated knee'
broken ribs
stitches in arm and over eye
concussion in eye
ringworm
injected myself with mycotil -in error- very serious

Henwin · 22-03-2014 11:27pm

Great thread.
Something that always annoys me bout farm accidents is that they are rarely reported in the mainstream media. Why is this?
If there was a workplace accident in any other industry like a building site or factory and a worker dies it is all over the news and an investigation follows.
But if an accident happens on a farm it doesn't even make the local radio news even though it is still a workplace accident.
There are roughly 21 deaths every year on farms, if every death is reported in the media surely farmers become more aware of the dangers and thus could save lives.

Timmaay · 22-03-2014 11:33pm

Jezzz some list so far, are yas sure an officejobs wouldnt be a better bet! My view on all of this, I think farming can be a tough enough job at times anyways, not to mind the risks and hazards we all seem to accept day in day out. Where will it all end I don't know, plenty of H&S and red tape maybe, but what price can you really put on your health? I guess its your opinion on farming, is it just a job and means to an end moneywise for you, or a way of life where you accept the hazards?

exercise is the antidote · 23-03-2014 12:15am

Henwin wrote: »

Great thread.
Something that always annoys me bout farm accidents is that they are rarely reported in the mainstream media. Why is this?
If there was a workplace accident in any other industry like a building site or factory and a worker dies it is all over the news and an investigation follows.
But if an accident happens on a farm it doesn't even make the local radio news even though it is still a workplace accident.
There are roughly 21 deaths every year on farms, if every death is reported in the media surely farmers become more aware of the dangers and thus could save lives.

I noticed this also, and if they are reported on it is very brief, ETTG does its best but that's about it...
Investigation,
Actors,and
Reconstruction of the event and show to Farmers is the only way to go I think..

Nekarsulm · 23-03-2014 12:46am

While reversing the quad out of the corner of a field, where two drains meet, skidded into the drain . Some how was flung off, and ended up standing against the far bank of the drain, up against a whitethorn bush. Water was 4 foot deep, and my foot was pinned down in the muddy bottom by the handlebar. Wheels of the quad (300 HONDA) were 6 inches under the water level. Climbed out, and walked up to the house, stripped off in the yard and hosed down, then 10 minutes in the shower. Wasn't the better for weeks, kept thinking things like " I could have been buried a week by now etc." be careful folks

Reggie. · 23-03-2014 12:46am

biddy2013 wrote: »

broken ankle
dislocated knee'
broken ribs
stitches in arm and over eye
concussion in eye
ringworm
injected myself with mycotil -in error- very serious

Some list there biddy, only thing I got was ringworm. Never broke a bone yet or got any stitches either. Now off I go to touch some wood

Muckit · 23-03-2014 1:03am

Maybe we should be posting off the incident reports with our near misses to the HSA.

We all just need to slow down and take our time. Accidents usually happen because your rushing. We need to be especially careful if we're lone working. I think a charged bill pay phone with reception is essential. I don't know are the smartphone s the best, keep thinking of that man that kept swiping at the screen but blood was feckin it up for him.

AIso l know we have to keep costs to a minimum but spending a bit on a few safety features is always money well spent. I bought a pair of chainsaw trousers during the week. Have the boots and gloves a while. Hopefully l'll never have to test how good they are.

Handbrakes on tractors is another one , especially older tractors. I'm guilty of this one myself with 135. How many lads got pinned between a tractor and a gate or piece of machinery?

You need to be so careful.

TITANIUM. · 23-03-2014 2:23am

Tractor handbrakes are deadly alright. Had to peg myself into a ditch as a young lad when the handbrake slipped on a hill.

Only two days ago I had a lucky escape. I was throwing in a few bales. Up and down outta the tractor takeing off plastic and mesh. I was useing the 3spike on the front loader. My mind was a million miles away and I somehow got tripped up in the plastic while rushing and came clattering down hard on the spikes. Twas the look of god I had them pointed down to the ground. Otherwise I'd have been found ran through that evening maybe. The auld fella had only warned me last week to allways keep the loader and spikes down if im getting off the tractor. Im dame glad I listened to him.
Tis simple happen. ...

Mad4simmental · 23-03-2014 6:55am

Muckit

AIso l know we have to keep costs to a minimum but spending a bit on a few safety features is always money well spent.

+1 we had one of those old style man holes in one if the slatted thank. Big cement blocks you had to lift out with bars. We got a new one put in with the safty grid on it. Best few bob ever spent on the farm I hated the site of the old one.

Iv had all the usuall ones kicks, falls, ect but the one that shook me the most was on the old bosses farm. He Had an old pb bull for years, ust to show him and all. One day he just turned and stuck the boss to the wall out of nowhere, I jumped in with a sprong and gave it to the bull and he stopped. It gave me as much of a fright as him.

Reggie. · 23-03-2014 8:38am

TITANIUM. wrote: »

Tractor handbrakes are deadly alright. Had to peg myself into a ditch as a young lad when the handbrake slipped on a hill.

Only two days ago I had a lucky escape. I was throwing in a few bales. Up and down outta the tractor takeing off plastic and mesh. I was useing the 3spike on the front loader. My mind was a million miles away and I somehow got tripped up in the plastic while rushing and came clattering down hard on the spikes. Twas the look of god I had them pointed down to the ground. Otherwise I'd have been found ran through that evening maybe. The auld fella had only warned me last week to allways keep the loader and spikes down if im getting off the tractor. Im dame glad I listened to him.
Tis simple happen. ...

Spikes are always left facing down around here, as your incident can easily happen

stoeger · 23-03-2014 9:12am

Sometimes you just don't think. Only two weeks ago I was up a ladder and putting a roof on a shed . We have a small pony for the kids and I left her out . She ran under the ladder and knocked me 12 foot on to concrete landed on my feet some how and spraind my left foot and right shin I was very lucky I didn't break anything

grassroot1 · 23-03-2014 9:20am

I was loading a bull and when bringing across the side gate he kicked out threw me back about 12 feet and split my scalp over my eye.
Cleaning out a shed and the guy on the loader clipped a gate and caught me with it, split a hole through my lip
Damage or injuries don't have to kill you to impact on you life, how many of us have bad backs or have hearing loss.

stoeger · 23-03-2014 9:24am

Sometimes you just don't think. Only two weeks ago I was up a ladder and putting a roof on a shed . We have a small pony for the kids and I left her out . She ran under the ladder and knocked me 12 foot on to concrete landed on my feet some how and spraind my left foot and right shin I was very lucky I didn't break anything

stoeger · 23-03-2014 9:24am

Sometimes you just don't think. Only two weeks ago I was up a ladder and putting a roof on a shed . We have a small pony for the kids and I left her out . She ran under the ladder and knocked me 12 foot on to concrete landed on my feet some how and spraind my left foot and right shin I was very lucky I didn't break anything

locky76 · 23-03-2014 9:37am

I was topping a paddock beside the house one day and when i went in to get something i left the tractor and topper ticking over, when i came put my two year old had climbed out of the front garden and gotten up on the back of the offset topper.... Still sends a shiver down my spine, major lesson learnt.

joe man utd · 23-03-2014 10:27am

When i was younger was on buckrake when father was bringing in square bales... slipped of it and got caught between wheel and buckrake.. tore a big hole in my calf muscle and broke 3 toes.. lucky for sure.. most recent i was working with a lad hedgecutting and watching the road for him.. a big chunk off a branch flew and hit me on the side of my head.. got 3 staples in it..

jt65 · 23-03-2014 10:50am

broken tibia and fibula

fractured ribs

fractured wrist

many bruising's and pulled muscles

luckiest escape was been pinned to the ground in the middle of a 10 ac field by a fr bull , only for my collies saving me that day I was history

micraX · 23-03-2014 11:19am

Jesus all these animal stories, glad we only have chickens. .
Near miss is when the forks of a forklift arent left flat in the ground, always seems to happen around here.

leg wax · 23-03-2014 11:30am

before i had a way of catching cow properly at calving in a head gate, put a suckler cow in behind a gate in a corner,put the jack on started to jack , she turned pushed the gate flying, and just started to spin with the jack straight out behind her,house was too small to escape , jack met my fore head, bang out for a few secs, crawled out , still have the groves off the jack to show for it.

Muckit · 23-03-2014 12:13pm

Fell off load of square bales as a young lad. Thankfully not a mark only bruised ego. Also as a young lad helping dad fence off a pit made in corner of field. He put the top strand on first. I never saw it and ran into it. Caught me just above my eye!! Very lucky with that one.

Can't think of any more personal ones thank God.

Brothers had a few near ones too. One fell down through square bales in shed narrowly missing a barrel of unturned forks! (Don't ask that's just the way the oul lad used keep them).

Other lad was giving me a hand to break down the tractor trailer and take the creels and ramp off. He wouldn't be the most mechanically minded and preceded to open clip and force spring off with the ramp down!!! With the box and creels off, the upright holding the spring catapulted into the air like a rocket. What goes up must come down ....it hit the ground a foot from him!! We both stood there speechless. .... then burst our h*les laughing! !!!!! It could have been so different though

onyerbikepat · 23-03-2014 12:16pm

No major accidents here, but one bit of advice I'd give to any young person reading this is mind your back. I have chronic back pain which I put down to years of lifting weights around the farm.
Like all young people I thought I could lift things no bother, but it's a slow and gradual damage that is done and you dont really notice it for years.
Even new born calves are too heavy to be lifting. If there is a better way of doing it, well worth the little investment or extra time taken.

zetecescort · 23-03-2014 12:37pm

Cutting fallen trees last week, finished with the saw, took off the facemask and went clearing the scrub and a twig sprung up and caught me just below the eye.

Had plenty of lucky escapes as a kid. Grew up with an open slurry pit and was warned to stay away but sure that only made it more attractive:) never went in thankfully

Askim · 23-03-2014 12:39pm

As Muckit said carry a phone, I carry a cheap pre paid phone, doesn't matter if damaged or lost, cost is only €5 credit every 6 months, only use it to text oh or for her to get me. can charge it in car or house, full time lone workers should carry one & charge it every night.

Even if no credit you can dial 999

biddy2013 · 23-03-2014 12:40pm

spent an hour seperating 2 suckler cows this morning. Ended up having to use the jeep to get them apart- both thought 1 calf was theirs- deadly dangerous. Always make sure theres 2 of us around when doing anything with them, OH tought we had been killed

jt65 · 23-03-2014 12:46pm

Askim wrote: »

As Muckit said carry a phone, I carry a cheap pre paid phone, doesn't matter if damaged or lost, cost is only €5 credit every 6 months, only use it to text oh or for her to get me. can charge it in car or house, full time lone workers should carry one & charge it every night.

Even if no credit you can dial 999

not wishing to go off topic but while on the subject of phones just wondering how many of you have ICE numbers saved ?

http://www.firstaidforeveryone.ie/ice_in_case_of_emergency
http://www.wikihow.com/Add-ICE-to-Your-Cell-Phone

exercise is the antidote · 23-03-2014 1:01pm

I was bringing a bale to cattle we where out-wintering, there has never been any breaks on our tractor(it has a handbrake), we just engage a low gear in high revs if on a hill, anyway I was coming up a slope when the tractor popped out of gear, instinctively I pressed in on the clutch and tried to press the brakes,(no good). I was afraid if I pulled the handbrake that it would near flip, I tried to put it back in gear but it was just grinding, as I had picked up speed going backwards the slope eventual ran out on to flat ground

I was sure I was going to flip it... only thing my dad said was you should have made sure it was in gear properly, still no brakes on it..

:mad:

newmug · 23-03-2014 1:03pm

Never do anything dangerous while hungover. I learned the hard way. I was cutting the head off a bolt with a small grinder, but the fcukin thing kept going around. So I put my left index finger on the bolt to keep it still, and operated the grinder with my right hand. Everything was going grand until I cut straight through finger and all. Between the mind being slow, and the numbness of the pain, I didn't realise until it was too late. It wasn't completely off, and it was only the top of my finger, but thankfully they managed to save it.

Zr105 · 23-03-2014 3:41pm

jt65 wrote: »

not wishing to go off topic but while on the subject of phones just wondering how many of you have ICE numbers saved ?

http://www.firstaidforeveryone.ie/ice_in_case_of_emergency
http://www.wikihow.com/Add-ICE-to-Your-Cell-Phone

I have a slight bugbear about this, i think the idea is great, but I've seen to many people harp on about it, then i ask 1 simple question, "does your phone have a pass code lock?" Most say yes i then ask them how is anybody supposed to get the bloody thing then.... Your pas code locked phone wont allow access to contacts...

Better off writing it on a slip of paper and shoving it into back of the phone case or taping it to it.

MickeyShtyles · 23-03-2014 4:09pm

Was servicing a small square baler there about three weeks ago. Big hungover head on me. Head was away with the fairies. After oiling all the chains(used fresh diesel with oil) I decided it'd be a grand idea if I had a smoke..... Overalls caught fire..... Lesson learnt!!

Harold Finch · 23-03-2014 4:54pm

Some shocking carelessness here lads.

Nekarsulm · 23-03-2014 5:31pm

On reading this thread, if farming was a sport, it would be banned!

SuperTortoise · 23-03-2014 5:35pm

Handbrake on tractors seems to be a common one, i hear about near misses all the time.

Base price · 23-03-2014 5:46pm

Fractured ribs due to getting caught between a gate and the crush after calving a heifer that turned on me
Fractured wrist, two broken fingers, and 3 broken toes on 3 different occasions.
Concussion and a split eyebrow from coming in contact with a horses head.
Fractured nose due to coming into contact with a pb bulls off hind hoof when I was washing him for a show.
Several jabs from needles over the years, lots of kicks to shins mostly from calves or foals.
The most worrying at the time it happened, was a hormone imbalance due to carrying an empty Ralgrow cartridge in my pocket. I was 20 years of age. Apparently the residue was absorbed through my skin. I had several worrying months and visits to a gynaecologist in order to rectify the situation.
Be very careful handling hormones especially if you are a woman. Obviously the same goes for handling chemicals. I think nowdays people are more aware of the dangers of chemicals and take the necessary precautions.

Reggie. · 23-03-2014 8:05pm

jt65 wrote: »

not wishing to go off topic but while on the subject of phones just wondering how many of you have ICE numbers saved ?

http://www.firstaidforeveryone.ie/ice_in_case_of_emergency
http://www.wikihow.com/Add-ICE-to-Your-Cell-Phone

Yeah I have

visatorro · 23-03-2014 8:13pm

heifer kicked my thumb this evening, this a little swollen! just thinking of the amount of times a cluster might fall off and id leave myself exposed to a kick reaching to get it. i always try stand between cow and calf when moving them but got abit of a buck once. had very close one with a bull before. he went for me and only for his front legs went from under him i was in serious trouble

biddy2013 · 23-03-2014 8:19pm

visatorro wrote: »

heifer kicked my thumb this evening, this a little swollen! just thinking of the amount of times a cluster might fall off and id leave myself exposed to a kick reaching to get it. i always try stand between cow and calf when moving them but got abit of a buck once. had very close one with a bull before. he went for me and only for his front legs went from under him i was in serious trouble

broke my finger when a cow kicked me while i had my fingers in a pair of scissors

Greengrass1 · 23-03-2014 9:17pm

biddy2013 wrote: »

broke my finger when a cow kicked me while i had my fingers in a pair of scissors

Sore I'd say. Broke my nose in 3 places when I was a young lad helping the mother milk. Went under bar to get the cluster and heifer kicked me. Big swollen face for a week.

Muckit · 23-03-2014 10:17pm

biddy2013 wrote: »

broke my finger when a cow kicked me while i had my fingers in a pair of scissors

Would ye all wear yer wedding rings or rings in general? Mine is a shade lose and always thinking I'll catch it in something ad pull the finger off me!

Zr105 · 23-03-2014 10:21pm

Muckit wrote: »

Would ye all wear yer wedding rings or rings in general? Mine is a shade lose and always thinking I'll catch it in something ad pull the finger off me!

Long way away from being married but if it ever does happen I'll be refusing a ring... Pictures we were shown on a first aid course back in school was enough to convince me of that.... All the skin striped clean off from where the ring should have been...

biddy2013 · 23-03-2014 10:24pm

Muckit wrote: »

Would ye all wear yer wedding rings or rings in general? Mine is a shade lose and always thinking I'll catch it in something ad pull the finger off me!

calf swallowed my engagement ring, dont wear wedding ring

Reggie. · 23-03-2014 10:24pm

Muckit wrote: »

Would ye all wear yer wedding rings or rings in general? Mine is a shade lose and always thinking I'll catch it in something ad pull the finger off me!

Wore it for two weeks after the wedding. Got it caught in the loader once and nearly lost the finger so not worn now

Nekarsulm · 23-03-2014 10:25pm

Don't wear it anymore, got it caught a few times. then saw photos of a lad whose ring shorted on the terminals of a starter motor. Don't think the finger was saved.

Rovi · 23-03-2014 10:25pm

Muckit wrote: »

Would ye all wear yer wedding rings or rings in general? Mine is a shade lose and always thinking I'll catch it in something ad pull the finger off me!

It's known as 'de-gloving'.
DO NOT Google that term if you're in any way squeamish!

Rings, dangly jewellery (ear-rings, necklaces, etc), loose long hair, and loose/flappy clothing are all significant and well known hazards for machinery operators.

moy83 · 23-03-2014 10:26pm

biddy2013 wrote: »

calf swallowed my engagement ring, dont wear wedding ring

Did you wait around for it to pass out ?

moy83 · 23-03-2014 10:29pm

Had to cut a ring off a buddies finger once where we jumped railings and the spike went up under the ring . Cut skin and all with the snips to get him free .

Rovi · 23-03-2014 10:29pm

biddy2013 wrote: »

calf swallowed my engagement ring, dont wear wedding ring

According to family legend, many years ago my father was washing his hands after calving a cow and noticed his wedding ring was missing.
He went back out to the shed, poked about through the cleanings and straw for a bit without success, and then had the bright idea of having a rummage inside the cow.
The ring was duly found

Nekarsulm · 23-03-2014 10:31pm

Rovi wrote: »

It's known as 'de-gloving'.
DO NOT Google that term if you're in any way squeamish!

Rings, dangly jewellery (ear-rings, necklaces, etc), loose long hair, and loose/flappy clothing are all significant and well known hazards for machinery operators.

Nephew got almost totally de-gloved at his work place, between two rollers. The staff in St. James's did a fantastic job putting it back on. Only the nail beds were still connected. Two surgeons came over from Manchester to see the results, so rare was it to save the hand. Had to wear a battery operated vacuum glove contraption to try and keep everything in place. Have photos on my phone, but afraid to look at them............

Farm accident stories...be careful folks!!

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