A reminder of the risks of diggers…

[Dreadnaught]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-45450278

 

Television wildlife presenter Johnny Kingdom has been killed in an accident on his land.
The film-maker, photographer and author, who specialised in his local area of Exmoor and north Devon, died on Thursday night.
Police confirmed emergency services were called to a field near Wadham Cross in Knowstone, Devon, to reports that a digger had rolled over.

[Ferdinand]

What a tragedy for his family and fans.

 

I really enjoyed those of his programmes I saw.

 

I think he may have preferred to go doing what he enjoyed, though.

 

F

Edited September 7, 2018 by Ferdinand

[ToughButterCup]

Thanks for this post. Brought me up short.

[joe90]

A reminder for us all!

[Onoff]

I so want a digger.

[joe90]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

I so want a digger.

Mines for sale next year!

[willbish]

I toppled a 3t digger back in July and was lucky to come out with only a bruised ego.

Door open, no seat belt on, working on my own... 

Fortunately the hire insurance covered for incompetence! As the cab needed replacing.

These machines have the potential to be dangerous beasts even in experienced hands. Not that I'd consider myself experienced but I've learnt a lesson about their limitations.

[Declan52]

If you go and do the test for the digger licence its an automatic fail if you don't have your seatbelt on before you even turn it on. Really important on a small digger.

[Hecateh]

4 hours ago, Ferdinand said:

What a tragedy for his family and fans.

 

I really enjoyed those of his programmes I saw.

 

I think he may have preferred to go doing what he enjoyed, though.

 

F

agreed with a big BUT;  I'm sure many; if not most; would prefer a sudden death doing something we enjoy.  He was 79 and that's great - Wouldn't have been the same if he was 20 or more years younger

[Ferdinand]

Just ran across this.

 

Report on the Inquest into Johnny Kingdom.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/25/johnny-kingdom-tv-presenter-died-digger-accident-inquest

 

Moving an over heavy load (log) on an incline, followed by 'crush asphyxia". 3.5T digger.

[ToughButterCup]

Ahhhhhggghhh. Like @Declan52 said before I bought mine,  you can do so much damage in just a moment. But I never gave a thought to damage  I might do to myself.  I never once wore the seat belt.  And I have never seen anyone wearing one in a digger cab.

Have you seen a digger driver wearing one ( excepton a course or test)? 

[joe90]

My JCB has no seat belt, don’t think they come with them, mind it’s so damn heavy (8.8tons) and a wide wheel base it’s difficult (not impossible) to knock it over, I have got it up on two wheels tho with the boom extended and a bucket full of clay but the bucket hitting the ground stops it going over ?.

[dpmiller]

On todays sites they're pretty hot on belts- the second (green) beacon on top indicates belt on AFAIK.

 

I'm guessing that the digger in question  didn't have a full cab or the door was latched open?

[Ferdinand]

5 hours ago, dpmiller said:

On todays sites they're pretty hot on belts- the second (green) beacon on top indicates belt on AFAIK.

 

I'm guessing that the digger in question  didn't have a full cab or the door was latched open?

 

He had had digger for at least a decade, but I don’t know beyond that.

[Declan52]

10 minutes ago, dpmiller said:

On todays sites they're pretty hot on belts- the second (green) beacon on top indicates belt on AFAIK.

 

I'm guessing that the digger in question  didn't have a full cab or the door was latched open?

When doing your test if you don't buckle up as soon as you sit down is a fail before you even turn it on.

[Cpd]

I am another “guilty as charged” when it comes to using a digger without a seat belt while on my own property, 

I used to use them on a daily basis back in Australia for work and it was just standard practice to put them on, the only difference I can think of is back in Australia you always had someone on the ground to avoid the need for you to be constantly jumping in / out and it was just part of the many safety protocols that needed to be adhered to while working on A professional site. 

[Ferdinand]

Was on a professional housing estate site this morning chasing up repairs where they were overenthusiastic taking tree roots out next to one of my Ts, and noticed the twin reen and orange lights on diggers for the first time.

 

I had to wait for the site manager, and overheard a fascinating 20 minutes of complaints about the non-availablilty of skilled labour for more than about a fortnight each at the prices they wish to pay ? .

[Oz07]

If you pay attention the green beacon keeps flashing when some operators get out. They know the tricks