Unsafe modification of mowers for greenhouse use. - Page 1 |
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Mowers that have been modifi ed for use in greenhouses may be hazardous. In some N.C. greenhouses, typical walk-behind gas-powered lawn mowers, like the ones you might use to cut a lawn, have been removed from their original wheelbase and then fi tted onto a metal carriage. The carriage and the mower are then attached to a boom. The boom—a long, metal arm that extends the width of a plant bed, 35 feet—is mounted on a rail system and allows a worker to walk down a path in the greenhouse pushing the boom-mounted mowers. The mower is then used to trim the tobacco or sweet potato plants growing in the plant beds. The mowers, as manufactured, are equipped with a safety device known as the operator presence control (OPC) located on the handle of the mower. The OPC allows the engine to run when it is squeezed against the mower handle. When you use a mower as it was manu-factured and release the OPC safety device on the handle, the mower shuts off. Injury in 2014: A farmworker was mowing sweet potato plants in a greenhouse using a modifi ed lawn mower. The mower was modifi ed in that the handle with the OPC safety device had been removed. The handle and safety device had been replaced with a simple toggle switch used to stop and start the machine. At noon on the day of the accident, when it was time to break for lunch, the worker realized that the toggle switch on his machine was broken in the “on” position. The worker asked for help from another employee, who turned the machine off by disconnecting the wires to the toggle switch and touching the wires to the metal on the frame. The mower manual says that the spark plug wire needs to be secured away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting prior to repair or cleaning. When the worker returned from lunch the mower was still off. The worker began to clean the mower and the blades. The mower started up as he cleaned the blades, amputating three of the employee’s fi ngers. Since the injury, the employer has developed a safer mechanism for mowing its plant beds and implemented new work rules regarding use of the mowers. Summary Lawn mowers with modifi cations that alter or disable the OPC system or that are not in accordance with manufacturer instructions may be hazardous. Modifi ed mowers may reduce employee safety. For Growers: Improving the Safety of Your Mowers: Never disable safety mechanisms on machinery. Make sure all guards and safety devices are in place prior to operation. hazard Division of Occupational Safety and Health 1101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1101 Cherie Berry, Commissioner of Labor 1-800-625-2267 wwww.nclabor.com Unsafe Modifi cation of Mowers for Greenhouse Use Modifi ed mower mounted on boom. NCDOL Photo Library NCDOL Photo Library Toggle switch used to activate modifi ed mower. continued on page 2 NCDOL Photo Library NCDOL Photo Library New mechanism to activate mower, replacing toggle switch. HA1475
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Title | Unsafe modification of mowers for greenhouse use. - Page 1 |
Full Text | Mowers that have been modifi ed for use in greenhouses may be hazardous. In some N.C. greenhouses, typical walk-behind gas-powered lawn mowers, like the ones you might use to cut a lawn, have been removed from their original wheelbase and then fi tted onto a metal carriage. The carriage and the mower are then attached to a boom. The boom—a long, metal arm that extends the width of a plant bed, 35 feet—is mounted on a rail system and allows a worker to walk down a path in the greenhouse pushing the boom-mounted mowers. The mower is then used to trim the tobacco or sweet potato plants growing in the plant beds. The mowers, as manufactured, are equipped with a safety device known as the operator presence control (OPC) located on the handle of the mower. The OPC allows the engine to run when it is squeezed against the mower handle. When you use a mower as it was manu-factured and release the OPC safety device on the handle, the mower shuts off. Injury in 2014: A farmworker was mowing sweet potato plants in a greenhouse using a modifi ed lawn mower. The mower was modifi ed in that the handle with the OPC safety device had been removed. The handle and safety device had been replaced with a simple toggle switch used to stop and start the machine. At noon on the day of the accident, when it was time to break for lunch, the worker realized that the toggle switch on his machine was broken in the “on” position. The worker asked for help from another employee, who turned the machine off by disconnecting the wires to the toggle switch and touching the wires to the metal on the frame. The mower manual says that the spark plug wire needs to be secured away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting prior to repair or cleaning. When the worker returned from lunch the mower was still off. The worker began to clean the mower and the blades. The mower started up as he cleaned the blades, amputating three of the employee’s fi ngers. Since the injury, the employer has developed a safer mechanism for mowing its plant beds and implemented new work rules regarding use of the mowers. Summary Lawn mowers with modifi cations that alter or disable the OPC system or that are not in accordance with manufacturer instructions may be hazardous. Modifi ed mowers may reduce employee safety. For Growers: Improving the Safety of Your Mowers: Never disable safety mechanisms on machinery. Make sure all guards and safety devices are in place prior to operation. hazard Division of Occupational Safety and Health 1101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1101 Cherie Berry, Commissioner of Labor 1-800-625-2267 wwww.nclabor.com Unsafe Modifi cation of Mowers for Greenhouse Use Modifi ed mower mounted on boom. NCDOL Photo Library NCDOL Photo Library Toggle switch used to activate modifi ed mower. continued on page 2 NCDOL Photo Library NCDOL Photo Library New mechanism to activate mower, replacing toggle switch. HA1475 |