FR O M T H E M A G C S A PRE S I DE N T
Andrew Foster
HAVE A SAFE 2020! E
arly Orders, Spring PreEmerge ready, Cutting Budgets, Winter Projects, Ha! “Slow time of year.” There is one procedure that I know I don’t review enough with the crew and it is probably the most important, First Aid Policy and Procedures. Everyday there are a lot of potential situations on the golf course and around the maintenance facility that would need a quick response. Do you know what to do if an accident happens, does your crew know what to do? Talk about one of the worst times to have an employee be the “not my job” employee! We are the ones out there every day in every weather condition. Are you confident and are your crew and members confident in your ability to assess the situation and administer the correct response? It could be as simple as someone just being sick, a twisted ankle or a small cut.
What if it’s something more that needs stitches or worse, a broken leg? How about something life threatening such as choking, heat stroke, heart attack or dismemberment, do you know what to do? Do you have a first aid kit, oxygen tank or AED? Do you treat it yourself, take them to ER or call 911? If they send an ambulance, does the pro shop know? If the ambulance has to travel onto your course, can they access all areas? Is that bridge wide enough, strong enough, will they bottom out on that dip, can they make it around that corner, if it’s wet will they get stuck? That is just scratching the surface of possible problems that you would have to answer in a split second if not prepared. If you do know what to do, does everyone else know? If you are out of town are you confident in your crew? Some of the accidents we can’t prevent, some of them we can. We can continually train on
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equipment, always wear correct PPE and conduct regular safety checks and meetings. One accident that can easily be prevented is heat related illness. Say an employee gets sick and goes to the hospital. For some strange reason, you get a call from OSHA and it turns out to be a heat related illness. OSHA says “Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program. *Provide workers with water, rest and shade. *Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat. *Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention. *Monitor workers for signs of illness”. There is much more information on OSHA’s website (osha.gov) along with posters and handouts for your safety meetings. If you don’t have procedures in place YOU take the first steps in getting it organized! It is our responsibility to send our employees home in the same condition they arrived in the morning. Hope everyone has a SAFE 2020!
Andrew Foster MAGCSA President
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org