Horror story

[1145JohnDeere]

Last Thursday a lawn maintenance company here was mowing a residential account that had a small pond with a high dam bank on one side. As one of the workers was mowing the bank with a Chariot Jr. it began to slide down towards the water. Before the employee (18 yrs old) could jump off the mower turned over on him and drove both into the water. His head was submerged and he could not get up because the mower was on top of him. Fortunately, another worker was weedeating nearby and saw what happened. He was able to hold the guys head above water til help came to lift the mower off. The employee suffered two broken legs. I saw the mower at the dealer, it was not damaged other than a bent seat and lots of mud.

[Eric ELM]

This is one thing bad about working by yourself, there wouldn't of been anyone around to help him. This guy is very lucky to be alive.

You solo workers, be need to be more careful and this is a good example.

Be safe everyone. :)

[Turfclippings]

for examples like this and stories of being near the water, i pass on properties with lakes and ponds. Its not worth taking a chance over.

Kevin

[Greenkeepers]

That amazes me that he didn't get off. At least he's still around to tell the story. Hopefully the employer had w/c to cover for this...

Be safe everyone!!!!!!!

[joshua]

thats scary. he's lucky that he is still alive, but only 2 broken legs is luck, i'm surprised he didn't do something to his neck.be safe everyone

[JLC]

I'll add.

Less than a week after getting my Turf Tiger it proved to much for my ramp on the trailer. As I was backing off it gave and the mower pointed for the sky. I was unable to get off the machine until it started rolling backward (levers across my legs and all my weight pushing vertically on the seatback). I was then able to literally fall off and roll before it came over on top of me. It came to rest on the seat and front spindles...if I wouldn't have made it off it would have snapped my neck. What amazed me in hindsight is how many cars must have driven by on the busy street I was working on without stopping to help.

I thought my setup was safe.

[solinsky]

last week a guy that works with me did the same thing. When he tried to jump off his shirt got caught on the handle of the lazer, luckily he was not injured.

[dan deutekom]

It suprises me that more mower manufactures don,t provide a ROPS system for their mowers. Maybe they don,t realize the conditions that the mowers are used in that could cause roll overs. If you mow slopes you really should have ROPS and a seatbelt

[Toad]

Try working around lake shores all day , with average 3'' high break walls. Especially on a Z mower.