Ditch Witch Launches 'Groundbreaking Safety' Program

PERRY, Okla.- The Ditch Witch organization has released Groundbreaking Safety, a new training program designed to promote the safe operation of all types of trenchers, plows, horizontal directional drills (HDD), mini skid steers, and mini excavators.

The program consists of two products. The first is a DVD containing three safety videos specific to trenchers, HDD equipment, and compact utility equipment. Each video contains basic safety information for pre-work inspection, loading and transporting equipment, jobsite preparation, and potential hazards. The DVD is offered free of charge to those in the construction industry.

"This is an easy-to-use, versatile, flexible tool for creating or increasing safety awareness in the construction industry," says Rich Lambert, coordinator of product safety for The Charles Machine Works (CMW), manufacturer of Ditch Witch equipment. It's designed for many uses including classroom training, “tailgate sessions” with equipment operators on the jobsite, continuous play at a rental counter or other retail situation, or for individual use on a laptop or PC.

The second product is a complete safety training program that includes an interactive presentation including video, on-screen text, and narration; a leader's guide to help facilitate various classroom or individual training scenarios; and a test to track and record participant's learning. This portion of the training program is being analyzed and will be available around the first of the year. Also, the videos will soon be downloadable from www.ditchwitch.com.

"The Groundbreaking Safety program consists of short, easy-to-use modules that can be used in a variety of formal or informal safety training settings," says John Dolezal, CMW training manager. "And the modules can be delivered by an instructor or utilized by an individual on a PC or laptop, so the information can be packaged and delivered in a lot of different ways. The program is a brand new resource for construction industry stakeholders to address safety awareness training."

Ditch Witch Public Relations/Advertising Manager Jeri Kannenwischer says the Groundbreaking Safety program was developed after Ditch Witch received numerous requests from field personnel for updated safety training videos. "We found that the industry needed training products that would fit multiple training scenarios – not just the typical VHS method," Kannenwischer tells Lawn & Landscape. "Further, we found out that many contractors are required to have proof of safety training in order to secure bids, and many bids prefer 'factory-authorized' training. Our full training program answers this need by including an assessment tool and a completion certificate."