Tragic Accident For Lawn Technician...

[The Lawn Crew]

A very sad story of a lawn technician who died on the job in a tragic accident...

http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/face/stateface/mi/05mi046.html

[thomsoutdoor]

That makes some of my bad days look not so bad.

[sclawndr]

That's an old story that has been posted on the site before. While tragic, it is further proof that most people are their own worst enemy. Anyone who's ever owned a PG knows the units don't have brakes and don't fit properly in vans.

[Marcos]

A very sad story of a lawn technician who died on the job in a tragic accident...

http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/face/stateface/mi/05mi046.html

Thanks for reposting it, Lawn Crew.
I know a company in this town that does exactly the same thing right now with their newer Perma Greens, and I hope someone points them to your post!

I believe that they are actually too ashamed to call themselves a 'lawn care company' among their peers, and hang out with folks on the likes on lawnsite.com

I certainly know the business' owner is way to cheap and irresponsible
to buy the PG Reese hitch carriers, or anything else that could make sense safety-wise for those techs!

[indyturf]

I think the safest way to take your PG off your carrier or out of a truck or van is to put it in neutral and just roll it off without even starting the engine. it looked like this guy must have tried to ride the thing out of the van!

[Marcos]

I think the safest way to take your PG off your carrier or out of a truck or van is to put it in neutral and just roll it off without even starting the engine. it looked like this guy must have tried to ride the thing out of the van!

Those things were NOT designed to be put in vans...
But this thread was not meant to be an argument,
so I'll let it be at that.

[indyturf]

Those things were NOT designed to be put in vans...
But this thread was not meant to be an argument,
so I'll let it be at that.

I agree with that! but I have seen Lawn Doctor carry them in a van but take them in and out of the side door with a folding ramp. looked like a pretty good set-up. but in any case I think its safer to just roll them out in neutral!

[RigglePLC]

Roll off in neutral! Are you kidding?
Very scary! I have a hitch carrrier. PG Ultra. When i rolled off, it seemed too fast, really out of control. Brakes barely slowed it down.

So...I had to start in neutral--but--with parking brake on to prevent roll. Then put in reverse gear. But then--it is hard to reach parking brake to release it. If you release it with right foot--you have no foot to stand on brake.

Then--my neutral safety switch corroded and fell off two years ago. Now I start in gear. It does not move until I gun the motor. Works better. Sometimes I stand on the platform. Sometimes I stand on the ground. But I wish it had a good hand brake, like on my 10 speed bicycle.

[rcreech]

Roll off in neutral! Are you kidding?
Very scary! I have a hitch carrrier. PG Ultra. When i rolled off, it seemed too fast, really out of control. Brakes barely slowed it down.

So...I had to start in neutral--but--with parking brake on to prevent roll. Then put in reverse gear. But then--it is hard to reach parking brake to release it. If you release it with right foot--you have no foot to stand on brake.

Then--my neutral safety switch corroded and fell off two years ago. Now I start in gear. It does not move until I gun the motor. Works better. Sometimes I stand on the platform. Sometimes I stand on the ground. But I wish it had a good hand brake, like on my 10 speed bicycle.

I use a reese hitch trailer on my truck and couldn't imagine loading it in a van due to the height of the entry and also just getting it in there (head height).

I would have to agree with Riggle here! I always back my machine off my machine while riding it in gear as it seems to go slower. When in neutral there is nothing to slow it down (gear). I have backed it off in N before and it seemed "out of control" and a little scary to me. I have backed my PG off in gear thousands of times and have never felt scared in any way.

If I ever build another reese hitch....I will have ramps on both sides so I never have to back it off ever. You pull it up on one side and drive it off on the other. I think I seen something like this somewhere or I have heard someone talk about it.

Just seems like a good idea, may be safer and gives you more unloading options (if needed),

[indyturf]

I use a reese hitch trailer on my truck and couldn't imagine loading it in a van due to the height of the entry and also just getting it in there (head height).

I would have to agree with Riggle here! I always back my machine off my machine while riding it in gear as it seems to go slower. When in neutral there is nothing to slow it down (gear). I have backed it off in N before and it seemed "out of control" and a little scary to me. I have backed my PG off in gear thousands of times and have never felt scared in any way.

If I ever build another reese hitch....I will have ramps on both sides so I never have to back it off ever. You pull it up on one side and drive it off on the other. I think I seen something like this somewhere or I have heard someone talk about it.

Just seems like a good idea, may be safer and gives you more unloading options (if needed),

Wow! I have never rode the PG off the carrier. I always roll it off and walk behind it. I have rolled it off in reverse with the engine not running and it rolled of real slow. but I guess what ever works best for you!
The carrier with 2 sets of ramps is a good idea!

[Marcos]

couldn't imagine loading it in a van due to the height of the entry and also just getting it in there (head height).



And I believe the people at Perma Green would quietly shake their heads in agreement with Mr. Creech.
But PG reps, I'm certain, are wise not to get too vocal on this topic at trade shows, as to not discourage business to buyers who only have vehicles which would otherwise not be quite adequate for their machine's safety and storage needs.