With many of today’s mowers capable of reaching speeds up to 12 and 13 miles per hour, operators put themselves at risk when zipping on steep slopes, particularly if they are fresh with dew, points out Sam Steel with the National Safety Council (NSC), Itasca, Ill.
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“Operators are putting themselves seriously at risk when they ride on wet slopes of more than 15 degrees at fast speeds,” Steel emphasizes.
That’s why the NSC, in partnership with two mower manufacturers, introduced a new training program at the Green Industry Expo in Orlando, Fla., to instruct commercial lawn care equipment operators on the safe operation of zero-turning radius mowers.
Funded by The Toro Co. and Exmark, the Commercial Equipment Operators’ Safety Training Program is designed to protect landscape workers and prevent accidents in the field by promoting safe mowing techniques.
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Designed for field or classroom use, the training package includes laminated “tailgate” training flipcharts with a trainer’s script on the back of every page, an instructional DVD to guide trainers, plus participant handouts to help reinforce the lessons learned in each of the three modules. The flipcharts include both English and Spanish text and are enclosed in a durable and weather-resistant carrying case that doubles as a presentation easel. Each page uses large photos and text to illustrate proper zero-turn riding mower operation and explain the risks of operation the mowers improperly, Steel describes.
Part of the reason for putting this program together, according to Steel, is that OSHA recently announced their five-year strategic plan, which targets five industries in which they will be increasing their safety inspections to check for proper procedures, and the landscape and horticultural service industries was one of the five.
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Since OSHA doesn’t need a reason to conduct a random inspection, which includes compliance with training, education and equipment inspections, “proper instruction is critical,” explains Rick Rodier, general manager, landscape contractor business, The Toro Co., Bloomington, Minn. “Our world is full of tools that can be dangerous if they are mishandled. Because we can’t control who reads each operating manual that accompanies our equipment, we want to do as much as we can to protect users from the unexpected. That’s why we’ve united with the NSC, Exmark and landscaping firms to broaden awareness of safety training.”
When OSHA does do random safety inspections, Steel says the No. 1 reason a company is written up is because they don’t have a written safety training program and a log of who was trained and when. “These are two things landscape contractors need to have and maintain regularly,” he says.
And to ensure that no matter who conducts safety training at a contractor’s company the message remains the same, the CEO program is designed so that the instructor highlights all of the important topics every time, including equipment safety features, safe mower operation on slopes, prevention of rollover accidents, protection from hazards, safety gear, use of attachments and safe transportation of equipment. From start to finish, the training program can be delivered to workers in 15-minute presentations in about eight to 10 weeks, Steel says.
“The CEO program makes it easy for contractors to thoroughly instruct every person who works with or around a zero-turn mower,” comments Mark Stinson, general manager, Exmark Manufacturing, Beatrice, Neb. “As with any complex machine, zero-turn riders can be dangerous if misused. Once users understand their limits and capabilities, they can protect themselves while preserving the efficiency and productivity the mowers afford.”
For more information or to order the CEO program for $249.95, visit www.nsc.org/train/osh/ceo/toro_ceo.htm.
Visit www.lawnandlandscape.com for continued coverage of the Green Industry Expo.