THE LEADING EDGE
T H E E L A W N
Huntsville: Branching Out and Growing Stronger
Tips to safely oper
By josh wilder safety managerCompact excavators are helpful and extremely versatile machines on our jobsites They can be used for material handling, grading, installing trees, preparing areas for hardscaping, water features, retaining walls, and digging trenches for irrigation systems. As with any piece of equipment, however, compact excavators present safety hazards when not operated properly Rollovers, struck-by, and caught-between incidents are among the most common involving these machines
What should you do before operating a compact excavator?
• Receive training on the particular model you will be using and make sure you understand this training
• Inspect the machine and all attachments per instructions in the manufacturer’s operating manual and your training
• Know the work site and any possible hazards you might encounter
• Know the machine’s load limits and the weight of any materials it will be lifting.
• Ensure attachments are properly connected to the machine
What are some ways you can avoid compact excavator rollovers?
• Use caution on slopes and near banks and excavation drop-offs
• Travel straight up and down slopes with the attachment low and close to the machine
• Don’t travel over or operate on steep slopes, unstable surfaces, or slippery ground Don’t travel over obstacles such as logs, tree stumps, ditches, or curbs
• Swing to the uphill side to dump the load Don’t work with the machine’s tracks across a slope
• Don’t forget to raise the dozer blade before moving the compact excavator. If you take off with the blade lowered, the force could be enough to tip the machine over
How can you avoid incidents in which someone is struck by the machine or caught between the machine and another object?
• Keep constant tabs on where people, other machines, and objects are located, and be aware of blind spots
• Always look in the direction of the machine’s movement
• Make sure the compact excavator has sufficient operating clearance to avoid striking people, other
machines, materials, and objects
• Don’t step on the foot controls when entering or leaving the machine or use control levers as handholds.
• Never attempt to operate the controls from outside the cab
• Never allow riders or the use of the bucket or
other attachments as a work platform
What other precautions should you take when working with a compact excavator?
• Wear the seatbelt If you don’t and the machine tips, you could be crushed between it and the ground or an object
• Operate controls slowly and smoothly
• Don’t remove or modify safety equipment.
• Don’t operate the machine without knowing the exact location of any buried or overhead utility lines
M A Y 2 0 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E | P A G E 2 M A Y 2 0 2 4 Editor GINNY SHIKLE Marketing and Communications Specialist 901-664-8720 ginnys@hatcherlandscape com Website www hatcherlandscape com Careers Follow us @hatcherlandscape @hatchlandscape @hatchlandscape linkedin com/michaelhatcher-&-associates-inc THE LEADING EDGE Michael Hatcher & Associates is a proud member of ON THE COVER Members of the Huntsville Branch serving commercial landscape customers in the Rocket City and North Alabama include Kyle Williams Operations Manager center Jeff Guerin Business Developer; Mike Powell Irrigation Supervisor; Riley McMillan LC Supervisor; Brett Harden LC Foreman; Bryan Irwin LC Foreman; Jorge Lopez Irrigation Foreman Jose Yepez Irrigation Crew Member; Mauricio Lara LC Crew Member Ernesto Rodriguez LC Crew Member; Luis Sandoval CM Crew Member Fernando Hernandez Irrigation Crew Member; Walter Beltran LC Crew Member; Jenrry Sanchez LC Crew Member; and Drakken Holcomb CM Crew Member/Driver Not pictured are Alex Webster CM Crew Member Juan Rodriguez CM Foreman Joel Cortez CM Crew Member; and Peyton Reeves CM Crew Member/Driver PHOTOBYGINNYSHIKLE S
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S O a c n M
MEET THE TEAM: WILLIE SHEPHERD
CHRO says his job is all about the people
By ginny shikle marketing and Communications specialistDrawn to our core values Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence Willie Shepherd liked what he saw at Michael Hatcher & Associates from Day One Weeks after interviewing and 11 days after officially joining the Team, the Chief Human Resources Officer’s first impressions have been validated
“It’s exactly what I thought,” he said with genuine enthusiasm “This is a company trying to live out its core values, and I’m surrounded by exceptional people ”
Willie has spent time with Senior Leadership and his HR Department –Lupe Bownes, Lana Brown, Deanna Crum, Mia Friend, Nick Koehler, and Ginny Shikle. He’s also participated in “get to knows” or informal meetings with team members across the company
“The first week and a half has been very busy,” Willie said “We have some very talented people in this office alone. The people here are great, and that speaks to what I think Michael Hatcher is about It has been my complete joy getting to know their stories That has been the highlight!”
VP of Commercial Sales Ron Bobal said
BY WILLIE SHEPHERD
Since joining the Team on May 20 as Chief Human Resources Officer, Willie Shepherd, seated, has embarked on a journey to get to know all of our employees He is shown here in a selfie with Master Lawn team members, standing from left, Sales Specialist Paxton Pace, GM of Lawn Care Chris Bruno, and Sales Specialists Sharon Sullivan and Micheal Clark
Left, Commercial Maintenance
Crew Member Darrell Perez was nominated for our Caught Being Kind recognition for assisting a bird that had fallen out of its nest at a property in Southaven.
Right, Mike Powell, Irrigation Supervisor at our Huntsville Branch, was recognized for cleaning the office outside of normal working hours. Thank you, Darrell and Mike, for Doing
haveyoucaught someonebeing kind?
he’s thrilled to have Willie on our team as the CHRO “He has made a great first impression and is poised to make an even greater impact on our corporate culture,” Ron said
Chris Bruno, GM of our Lawn Care Division,
CAUGHT BEING KIND
said Willie is an asset as the company continues to grow and expand
“We’re excited to have him,” Chris said “We are looking forward to cultivating the best crew in the business for Memphis and beyond ”
M A Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 5 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E | P A G E 3
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scanhereto nominatethem
PHOTO BY GINNY SHIKLE
PHOTO BY RICARDO RAMIREZ
1 2 3 6 5 4 M A Y 2 0 2 4 | V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 5 T H E L E A D I N G E D G E | P A G E 4 COMMUNITY SPIRIT SUBMITTED PHOTO
PHOTO BY PALMER HOME FOR CHILDREN
PHOTO BY GINNY SHIKLE
PHOTO BY JOSH WILDER
PHOTO BY PAXTON PACE
Account Manager Jarret Fowlkes FOM Eli Michael, Procurement Manager Edgar Valdovinos and Account Manager Will Batson were on the MHA-Master Lawn team at the Palmer Home Shoot for Hope on May 10 1 Assistant Project Manager Katie Goodwin and Account Manager Rachel Green represented MHA at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Spring Hat Luncheon on May 9 2 Employees of the Tapestry Apartments arrange flowers donated by MHA for residents on Mothers Day 3 Lawn Care Specialists Chris Ratcliffe and Timothy Spina along with Sales Specialist Micheal Clark, worked the Master Lawn booth at the Germantown 5k for Education in April 4 Master Lawn Customer Experience Specialist Treva Hughes and her Yorkie, George, at the Halle Plantation pet adoption event in April 5 MHA sponsored a balloon for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraiser at Costco 6
PHOTO BY CHRIS BRUNO