Grounds Care Safety Considerations
April 17, 2009
This is Chris Matt, Associate Editor of Maintenance Solutions magazine. Today’s tip is safe mowing operations.
Keeping mowers and tractors in proper working order is essential for safe operations. Attention and commitment to routine maintenance goes a long way to ensure operator safety. Worn belts and brakes, loose bolts, faulty wiring, improper tire pressure and even broken seat belts can contribute to injury in the workplace. Unsafe equipment is not only a danger to the operator but to others in the vicinity of mowing operations.
Manufacturers are continually improving safety features on mowing equipment and tractors. Automatic shutoffs, ergonomic hand controls, vibration and noise reduction, roll bars, and seat belts are among the safety features included in today’s mowing equipment.
Deflectors and guards also are more common on mower decks and should remain in place when mowing near streets, parking lots and other places where flying objects thrown by the mower might damage property or injure people.
Operators and mechanics should not override safety features. In some cases, safety mechanisms might appear to lessen productivity, but managers and operators must understand what happens to productivity if an accident occurs. Before anyone operates power equipment, especially mowing equipment, they must receive proper training. A good training program includes hands-on instruction, watching safety videos and reading the owner’s manual.
Next
Read next on FacilitiesNet
