kimr74•26d ago

My groundie grabbed the winch line while the drum was still turning

Up in eastern Oregon last month, we were pulling a leaning ponderosa back with the skid steer and my groundie stepped in to grab the strap as it slackened. Before I could yell, the drum caught and the line yanked him forward about 4 feet. He dropped it quick and no one got hurt, but I realized I never showed him the rule about waiting until the drum fully stops. Now I make every new hand practice the hand-signal for 'line clear' with the engine off before we even start. Has anyone else had a close call that made you change your crew's setup routine?

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parkerbrown25d ago

Man, that's terrifying, glad nobody got hurt but those winch lines are no joke.