Mowing Machines

1. Specifically Riding Mowers By Chris Decker Mowing Machines

2. Introduction The equipment of discussion here is mowing machines, specifically riding mowers. The main purpose or use of this equipment by county workers will be for the maintenance and upkeep of county lands, including (but not limited to) sidewalks, public parks, along some public roadways, a few select lawns, and possibly for minimal upkeep of nature preserves in terms of overgrowth. The piece of equipment is a gas-powered vehicle with rotating blades attached to the undercarriage to allow the user to reduce the length of grass or other vegetation while moving over it.

3. Primary Safety Concerns Rotating Blades � contributing to lacerations, amputations, flinging of rocks and other debris, and possibly death due to mutilation. Sloped Work Areas (Possibility of Rollover) � contributing to the mower rolling over and causing operator to be pinned or crushed beneath it. Interfacing with the Public (Persons and Vehicles) � contributing to noise annoyance to persons, possible running over of pedestrians, and potential collision with other vehicles causing injury to either vehicle or driver. Heat Exhaustion � contributing to physical collapse of worker.

4. OSHA Recorded Fatalities There were five OSHA recorded fatalities from the year 1990 thru 2007. The majority of these fatalities were due to rollovers. A brief description of each incident is a follows.

5. OSHA Recorded Fatalities Individual was driving a riding mower. He went over the edge of a creek embankment and the mower fell on top of his chest. He died of asphyxia. At approximately 12:30 p.m. on August 26, 1994, an individual was found lying face down in approximately 1 to 1.5 feet of water with a Snapper 12 hp riding mower on top of him. The lawn mower blades were facing upward. The individual had been mowing grass and weeds and cleaning up the land around the Choctaw Ridge oil location. The individual died. Source: OSHA Fatalities Data 1990-2007

6. OSHA Recorded Fatalities Individual was mowing the county right-of-way along a road in Niles, NY. He was mowing a steep embankment with the mower blades downhill when the tractor started slipping. The individual tried to turn the tractor uphill, but it overturned on him. The individual was killed, suffering blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen. Individual was clearing vegetation from a 4 foot drainage canal when he hit an unanticipated 23 ft deep hole that was the result of unauthorized excavation. The mower dropped into the hole and individual drowned. Source: OSHA Fatalities Data 1990-2007

7. OSHA Recorded Fatalities An employee for HDR Construction Control Corporation was inspecting the Polk Parkway when a commercial lawn mower that was operating nearby hit a curb causing the mower blade to break and strike the employee in the head causing a fatal injury. Source: OSHA Fatalities Data 1990-2007

8. What are the major causes of riding lawn mower accidents? Ideally, riding lawn mowers would only be used on flat, stable surfaces.� However, the real world of mowing is quite different.� The law of gravity does not exempt riding mowers.� Like any other vehicle designed to operate on uneven surfaces, they roll over in expected uses.� When used on a ditch bank or incline, a riding lawn mower can cause injury or death if it rolls over and pins or crushes the rider beneath its weight.� As a result, drowning is a very real risk when a riding mower is used near a lake or pond and a rollover accident traps the operator under water.� When riding mowers are equipped with rollover protection systems, they have been shown to be 95�99 percent effective in preventing serious injuries and deaths. Source: http://www.ridingmoweraccident.com/html/faq.html

9. What are the most common injuries sustained in riding lawn mower accidents? Due to the weight of riding lawn mowers, in rollover accidents, victims are likely to suffer broken bones and dislocations, and even asphyxia.� Riding lawn mowers can also cause burns, and in back-over accidents, they can cause amputations and disfigurements.� Those that survive a riding lawn mower accident may be disabled and require lengthy and expensive rehabilitation. Source: http://www.ridingmoweraccident.com/html/faq.html

10. Is there any type of riding mower more susceptible to rollover? Due to numerous reasons related to their design, zero-turn-radius mowers are frequently involved in rollover accidents resulting in serious injuries and wrongful death. All types of riding lawn mowers have been implicated in back-over accidents. Source: http://www.ridingmoweraccident.com/html/faq.html

11. Required Personal Protective Equipment The following are suggested PPE�s to help prevent injury: Goggles or other Protective Eyewear Gloves Proper Footwear, usually Work Boots Hard Hat Ear Protection, usually Head Phones or Ear Plugs Seat Belt Safety Vest, usually bright orange or red with reflectors

12. Safety Procedures Never service mower while it is still running. Always use all Personal Protective Equipment required. Beware of presence of other persons, vehicles, and surroundings while operating mower. Always look and use caution when backing up. Whenever possible, use a mower equipped with a Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS). Do not use riding mowers on steep hills or embankments. Don not transport passengers on the mower or tow passengers behind the mower. Make sure mower has a Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign attached, usually bright orange or red. Keep plenty of clean drinking water on-hand to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration.

13. The End Thank You for Listening. Hopefully this information was helpful and informative.