By RFD
A 2012 incident could have been the end for Doug Raber of Raber Farms in Livingston County. In 2012 he was cleaning up some ditches when he backed up from a brush pile and went into a ditch.
He ended up pinned under his tractor. Fortunately, he was able to call his wife.
“I was fortunate that I had my phone in my coveralls in the front chest pocket and I actually called her when I was laying underneath the tractor,” said Raber.
As ag safety week wraps up and as the weather warms lots of farmers are preparing the fields for spring work, often clearing up ditches and removing last years brush growth and the debris of winter. While Raber survived the rollover, his is an all too common story and often ends up much worse.
Raber recommends rollover protection, wearing a seatbelt, letting family know where you are and when you will return, keeping the cell phone handy for emergencies….and above all, don’t get in a hurry and think safety at all times.
