Australia May Say Goodbye to Cowboy Hats

AP ^ | nov 15 2004

[george wythe]

The sweat-stained felt hats worn by Australian cowboys, as much a part of the Outback as kangaroos and sun-baked soil, may be heading for the history books. They fail modern industrial safety standards.

It all stems from the death of a cowboy, who suffered massive head injuries after being trampled in a fall from a horse while mustering bulls in July 2001. His sole protection was the tattered hat provided him for shading from the sun.

The New South Wales state government brought charges against the ranch owner, who employed 23-year-old Daniel Croker, convicting and fining the company $72,000 last month for breaches of safety, including failure to provide the horseman with an equestrian helmet.

Ranch manager Nicholas Ennis told investigators he knew of no ranch in Australia that made cowboys wear helmets except while mustering on motorbikes.

[george wythe]

The liberal do-gooders strike again:

News South Wales Farmers' Association president Mal Peters warned that substituting helmets for broad-brimmed hats would increase the hazards of skin cancer and heat stroke.

He said there is no helmet a farmer can use when the temperature reaches 113 degrees. "For a farmer who's mustering a mob of sheep, moving very slowly behind them without any air circulation, he or his employee may be subject to heat stroke," Peters said.

[orangelobster]

yeah, Texans should have to wear bicycle helmets too, when riding horses. Pedestrians too. You never know when you might fall off the curb.

[Juan Medén]

Never!

[chesty_puller]

while mustering bulls

Here in Texas this at least sounds illegal. Mustering indeed.

[CWOJackson]

To be replaced with berets? The kind with the little beenie thing on top?

[chesty_puller]

Man, have you missed a post yet? You're everywhere...

[Muleteam1]

I am to understand that I should wear a heavy aluminum short-brimmed hard hat in 110 degree weather instead of a light wide-brimmed felt hat and this is supposed to be good for me? Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.

Muleteam1

[76834]

[Billthedrill]

I just can't see John Wayne in an equestrian helmet.

I'm also not entirely sure a helmet of any kind will be of a great deal of protection if you're getting trampled by bulls.

[CWOJackson]

We are legion.

(That's sure to invoke a response by a couple of folks.)

[thackney]

bump for later mockery

[CindyDawg]

Worth a saddle ping? :')

[george wythe]

I am to understand that I should wear a heavy aluminum short-brimmed hard hat in 110 degree weather instead of a light wide-brimmed felt hat and this is supposed to be good for me?

How many of these people making silly rules have faced real-world conditions?

[mtbopfuyn]

Breach of safety? Hogwash. Sounds like another ridiculous spilt hot coffee law suit.

[george wythe]

Cowboy after OSHA

The cartoon is funny because is too close to reality. If OSHA had its way, that picture would become the norm.

[Robert357]

while mustering bulls
Here in Texas this at least sounds illegal. Mustering indeed.

What kind of heathen would use mustard on their beef? It has to be an appropriate tomato & spice based BBQ sauce, especially in Texas. Of course if you to go to the Carolinas, then just about anything can happen. (/sarcasm)

[Ditter]

>>>"Believe nothing that you hear (or read) and only half of what you see." I learned that from my father, probably why I am a conservative today.

[HairOfTheDog]

Cowboy hat or hard hat?

Ping!

[Sivad]

From Aussies to wussies, the nanny state goes down.....
...under.

Too, bad. I once thought that if things went too far here
in the States, I could migrate to Australia, a land of
continued rugged individualism. With stuff like this and
gun control I just wonder........