Farmer Dies From Skid
Steer Loader Accident

In 1995, an Iowa farmer died while cleaning hydraulic foot pedals of a skid-steer loader. The pedals were frozen with manure, snow, and ice. It was a cold and windy day, and the man was in a hurry. The bucket was in the 3/4 up position, jammed up against the rafters of an old garage with a low ceiling. Mechanical lift arm safety stops are included with this machine, but require the lift arms to be in the full UP position. While working in front of the machine the man loosened one pedal, and the bucket quickly fell, pinning him to the frame.

The machine had a hydraulic lever interlock connected to the safety belt, designed to prevent hydraulic flow when the operator was out of the machine. The farmer was always going in and out of hog pens, and had disabled this safety feature, viewing the seatbelt as a nuisance.

When the farmer started the loader in the small garage, the bucket rose automatically because the pedals were frozen. He shut the loader off and left the machine to begin cleaning the pedals with a crowbar through an access slot in front. He did not brace up the bucket before starting this work. When he loosened the left pedal, the bucket immediately fell. He was found by his wife, crushed against the frame of the loader.

1. Skid loader operators should not disable factory-installed safety devices.

—Temporarily increasing work efficiency is not worth the real risk of permanent injury or death!

—This farmer disabled his seatbelt, forgotting he had disconnected the hydraulic interlock as well.

2. Farmers should always use additional support when working under heavy equipment.

—Hydraulic systems can fail at any time due to a bad hose, poor connection, or bad O-rings.

—Remember Murphy's Law! Always use blocks or bracing when under any raised hydraulic load.

3. Owners must provide adequate space for regular cleaning and maintenance of machinery.

—Using a skid loader on the farm in winter almost guarantees frequent cleaning,.

—Pedals and their hydraulic linkages must be kept free of debris.