BOBCATS

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BOBCATS
(NOT THE ANIMAL, SKID STEER LOADERS)
Ryan Edwards
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BOBCATS
WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?
A SKID STEER LOADER is a rigid frame,
engine-powered machine with lift arms used to
attach a wide variety of labor saving tools or
attachments.
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BOBCATS
WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?
The conventional bucket of many SKID STEER
LOADERS can be replaced with a variety of
specialized buckets or attachments. These
include backhoe, pallet forks, angle
brooms, sweepers, augers, mowers, snow blowers,
stump grinders, trenchers, cement mixers, etc.
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BOBCATS
WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?
SKID STEER LOADERS are four-wheel drive
vehicles with the left-side drive wheels
independent of the right-side drive wheels.
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BOBCATS
WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?
SKID STEER LOADERS can turn in their own
tracks which makes them extremely maneuverable
and valuable that require a compact and agile
loader (mini-excavation).
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BOBCATS
WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?
SKID STEER LOADERS have lift arms that are
alongside the driver with the pivot points behind
the drivers shoulders.
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BOBCATS
WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?
Because of the proximity to moving booms, early
SKID STEER LOADERS were not as safe especially
during the entry and exit of the operator.
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BOBCATS
FATALITY STATISTICS
1991-2004
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BOBCATS
FATALITY STATISTICS
1991-2004
? A total of 30 deaths have occurred from the
operation of SKID STEER LOADERS (BOBCATS) from
1991-2004 ? 16 of the 30 deaths were results of
self-inflicted injuries by the operator, while
the other 14 deaths were inflicted by those
outside of the vehicle. ? Of the 16 operator
self-inflicted deaths, 14 of them resulted from
injuries inflicted by the arm of the machines.
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BOBCATS
SKID STEER LOADER ACCIDENTS
EXAMPLE 1 Employee 1, the company owner, was
loading a bobcat onto a lowboy trailer. When he
stood up inside the cage of the bobcat to check
his location on the trailer, he deactivated the
safety device with his foot. The bucket moved
upward, catching his head and neck between the
bucket and the safety cage. He suffered neck
trauma and ruptured his jugular vein.
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BOBCATS
SKID STEER LOADER ACCIDENTS
EXAMPLE 2 Employee 1 was operating a bobcat
skid steer loader that got stuck in the mud. He
raised the seat bar with the engine still running
and attempted to leave the machine. The left foot
pedal, which raises and lowers the loader bucket,
failed to engage the left pedal interlock when
the seat bar was raised. The left pedal
interlock, when engaged, prevents the loader arms
from operating. As employee 1 stood up to leave
the machine, his left heel applied pressure to
the foot pedal, causing the loader arms and
bucket to rise and pin him at chest level between
the bucket and the top part of the operator cab.
Employee 1 was pronounced dead on arrival at the
hospital.
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BOBCATS
SKID STEER LOADER ACCIDENTS
EXAMPLE 3 Employee 1 was operating a
bobcat-type skid steer loader to do a small dirt
job in preparation for applying an asphalt
overlay on a parking area. He had worked on this
particular loader for approximately 20 minutes.
He was found away from his work area at a point
where the loader had run into a building and
stopped. Employee 1's head had been caught in
the scissor point between the arm of the loader
and the loader cab, resulting in massive head
injuries of which he died. The loader cab did not
have a protective cage or guarding to prevent
scissor point contact however, the cause of the
accident has been undetermined due to lack of
eyewitnesses. Employee 1 was not wearing the
seat belt provided for this type of equipment.
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BOBCATS
SAFETY
Although no specific regulations have been
developed for SKID STEER LOADERS, OSHA has kept
this piece of equipment in mind. OSHA Subpart
O, 1926.602 The promulgation of specific rules
for compactors and rubber-tired SKID
STEER equipment is reserved pending
consideration of standards currently being
developed.
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BOBCATS
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

• Prior to entering or exiting the vehicle make
  sure that
• that the safety for the lifting arm is engaged.
• 1/8 thick steel plate or wire mesh should be
  used to
• cover cabin of the vehicle with no larger than 1
  openings
• When exiting the vehicle, if only temporary, be
  sure to
• Turn the vehicle off.
• Operators of the vehicle should maintain
  awareness of
• others around, due to the quick maneuvering
  ability.

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BOBCATS
(NOT THE ANIMAL, SKID STEER LOADERS)