The Rural Voice, 2002-11, Page 12"Our experience
assures lower cost
water wells"
102 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
Member of Canadian
and Ontario
Water Well Associations
• Farm
• Industrial
• Suburban
• Municipal
Licensed
by the Ministry
of the Environment
DAVIDSON
WELL DRILLING LTD.
WINGHAM
Serving Ontario Since 1900
519-357-1960 WINGHAM
519-664-1424 WATERLOO
BARN
RENOVATIONS
• Renovations to farm
buildings
• Concrete Work
• Manure Tanks
• Using a Bobcat Skid Steer
w/hydraulic hammer,
bucket, six -way blade &
backhoe
BEUERMANN
CONSTRUCTION
R.R #5 BRUSSELS
519-887-9598
or 519-887-8447
8 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
A hear -death experience
Robert
Mercer was
editor of the
Broadwater
Market Letter
and
commentator
for 25 years.
"I think that the thing that scared
me most was my inability to breathe."
A very meaningful comment from
someone who was stuck in the tines of
a hay tedder with the pto partially
engaged.
With just enough time to scream
for help, and to get it within 10
seconds from her husband who was
working nearby. the power pressure on
her chest, legs and arms was such that
if the pto had not been immediately
shut down the result could have been
much worse.
I went to visit Lorraine Buchanan
and her husband on their farm becat}se
she was willing to talk about her
accident and let her story be told so
others might avoid.the same type of
mishap.
Lorraine Buchanan is alive to tell
her story — and brave enough to come
forward to help others avoid any
similar accidents that appear to be very
unlikely in normal experience, and do
not come to mind as possible
dangerous situations.
Ken Lacroix, a Regional Farm
Safety Co-ordinator for Vancouver
Island, says that he unfortunately hears
stories of people who get hurt and
won't tell a soul, not even their
families. "It's difficult to discuss an
accident but we all learn from our
mistakes and those of others," he says.
In this case the pto clutch partially
engaged as Lorraine drove down to the
field with the tedder in the travelling
position with the wings up. Neither it
or the tractor showed any signs that the
power was engaged to the tedder.
There was no vibration and no
movements of the tines as could be
expected.
Then the unexpected happened.
The tractor was idling and Lorraine
started to lower the wings as she has
done hundreds of times before. But
this time the pto power kicked in and
Lorraine was hooked behind the knee
and dragged into the implement.
Lorraine was caught in those tines
as the tedder started to rotate,
thankfully with only partial power
from the pto. Then, after help arrived,
Lorraine was pulled clear, and was off
to the hospital within 10 minutes after
the 911 call. She was in hospital for
five or six days.
With the help of some rehab,
Lorraine was able to do a little work
back on the farm within two and a half
weeks. By August she was fully
recovered, with a sore rib the only
major irritant. A nasty scar remains
behind her left knee where good luck
and fast reaction saved her from any
broken bones, torn arteries or pulled
ligaments.
Parry Bay Sheep Farm at one time
or another during the year may be up
to 1,000 head and spread across
numerous rented properties throughout
the lower area of Vancouver Island in
the Metchosin/Saanich districts.
The family have built up a lot of
farming experience over the past 24
years. This past year 365 ewes were
put to the ram on their farm, and they
lambed 850 offspring. They crop about
130 acres of which all is hay except
about 25 - 30 acres that are in grain for
both the feed and straw value.
It is often the simple checks that
make farming safe. But it is not safe to
be simple ... as Lorraine says "Always
expect the unexpected. And turn the
tractor off when working on the
equipment, even if it is a diesel."0
BERNIE McGLYNN
LUMBER LTD.
BUYER OF HARDWOOD BUSHLOTS
Wholesaler - Hardwood Lumber
Box 385, R.R. 2.
Wingham, Ont NOG 2W0
BERNIE McGLYNN
Ph/Fax (519) 357-1430
SAWMILL
R.R. #5, Mildmay, Ont
(519) 367-5789
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