Safety Requirements Cancel The title field is required!

1. Osborne Cody

   
   8/15/2012 3:08 PM

   I received an email from my GM today stating that "all maintenance employees are required to wear protective eyewear, hearing protection, and hardhats whenever they are on the course." I fully agree that the eyewear and hearing protection are very important, but I feel that the hardhat requirement is a little unnecessary (at least not all the time). I was just wondering if any other superintendents are dealing with stricter safety policies, and what your thoughts and opinions are on the new regulations. I'm a first year superintendent, so maybe I'm just unaware of the changes going on everywhere. Thanks for your input.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/15/2012 4:08 PM

   We wear hardhats. It's really no big deal when you get used to it.

   
   
   
   
3. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   8/16/2012 4:08 AM

   We don't wear hardhats and I've fought it for years. It give the golfers a excuse to hit when the situation is not safe. This file is a bad transfer of an article I read many years ago and it has always made sense to me.
   A hard hat is meant to protect you from a hammer dropped from a roof...not golf balls
   
   If a golfer sees you with a hard hat,thinks you are protected and hits a line drive into your eye socket, I don't think the hard hat has served any purpose other than to increase the likelihood of serious injury
   
   
   [attachment=0">HARDHATS.RTF[/attachment">

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/16/2012 5:08 AM

   Larry Allan said: We don't wear hardhats and I've fought it for years. It give the golfers a excuse to hit when the situation is not safe. This file is a bad transfer of an article I read many years ago and it has always made sense to me.
   A hard hat is meant to protect you from a hammer dropped from a roof...not golf balls
   
   If a golfer sees you with a hard hat,thinks you are protected and hits a line drive into your eye socket, I don't think the hard hat has served any purpose other than to increase the likelihood of serious injury
   
   
   [attachment=0">HARDHATS.RTF[/attachment">

   
   
   
   Unfortunately though, despite the opinion of you and the Superintendent in the article, it is an OSHA requirement, as specifically stated in the article. Of course our employees have the responsibility to also be aware of their surroundings, including golfers on the tee, and move out of the way. I fought it for years, but when our insurance carrier provided the OSHA requirement to me, I had to give in.

   
   
   
   
5. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   8/16/2012 8:08 AM

   I guess the laws are different up here. There is no specific requirements for Golf Courses.
   We are expected to write up a Heath and Safety Policy and follow it. In it we state that "Hard hats are not required but if you would feel safer wearing one we will provide it"
   I once spoke to a Ministry of Labour rep and he said that in his opinion workers should not be on the course when there is play!

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   8/16/2012 10:08 AM

   Cody Osborne said: I received an email from my GM today stating that "all maintenance employees are required to wear protective eyewear, hearing protection, and hardhats whenever they are on the course." I fully agree that the eyewear and hearing protection are very important, but I feel that the hardhat requirement is a little unnecessary (at least not all the time). I was just wondering if any other superintendents are dealing with stricter safety policies, and what your thoughts and opinions are on the new regulations. I'm a first year superintendent, so maybe I'm just unaware of the changes going on everywhere. Thanks for your input.

   
   
   1.)is the GM your boss? Doesn't sound like he is asking your opinion about a policy. I would comply. He may agree with you, but his hands could be tied. 2.)I agree with Larry on this one. Not a big fan of hard hats. If asked to discuss the policy, I would state my case but not make an issue of it. Pick your battles. In the big scheme of things, not worth getting worked up about.

   
   
   
   
7. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   8/17/2012 12:08 PM

   Andy Jorgensen said: We wear hardhats. It's really no big deal when you get used to it. Read the link and I think you will begin to agree.
   
   http://grassgoober.blogspot.com/

   
   
   I disagree with the no big deal when you get used to it. If I had to wear a hat on the golf course when I started in golf there is no way I would be in this business today.
   
   I hate hats with a passion and would never get used to one on my head much less a hard hat. I wear a ball cap to play ball and my bike helmet to ride and both drive me nuts. It is the worst part of winter sports or hunting for me.
   
   I also think the hard hat offers little protection for a golf course employee. We provide hard hats for our employees but only require their wear when they cannot be aware of what is going on around them and for tree trimming.

   
   
   
   
8. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   8/17/2012 1:08 PM

   Andy Jorgensen said:
   
   Unfortunately though, despite the opinion of you and the Superintendent in the article, it is an OSHA requirement, as specifically stated in the article. Of course our employees have the responsibility to also be aware of their surroundings, including golfers on the tee, and move out of the way. I fought it for years, but when our insurance carrier provided the OSHA requirement to me, I had to give in.

   
   
   The article says "[u">Although no regulation specific to the golf course has been created[/u"> OSHA nonetheless has told GCSAA on several occasions that golf course employees, if working in an area where their chances of being struck by a golf ball are increased, [u">should[/u"> wear hard hats."
   
   That does not mean it is an OSHA regulation. "Should" and "shall" have two different meanings and no regulation has been created.... yet.
   
   Entry into a hard hat zone would also include all other employees and I would think customers too, no?

   
   
   
   
9. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   8/17/2012 2:08 PM

   Ronald Conard, CGCS said:

   Andy Jorgensen said:
   
   Unfortunately though, despite the opinion of you and the Superintendent in the article, it is an OSHA requirement, as specifically stated in the article. Of course our employees have the responsibility to also be aware of their surroundings, including golfers on the tee, and move out of the way. I fought it for years, but when our insurance carrier provided the OSHA requirement to me, I had to give in.

   
   
   The article says "[u">Although no regulation specific to the golf course has been created[/u"> OSHA nonetheless has told GCSAA on several occasions that golf course employees, if working in an area where their chances of being struck by a golf ball are increased, [u">should[/u"> wear hard hats."
   
   That does not mean it is an OSHA regulation. "Should" and "shall" have two different meanings and no regulation has been created.... yet.
   
   Entry into a hard hat zone would also include all other employees and I would think customers too, no?

   
   
   That dang Obama administration.........with all their regulations...sorry, I thought it was too good to pass up, hope it doesn't cause it to get hi-jacked.
   
   We are a city course, no requirement, we have them available if someone wants one, and a few of my summer help this year, I should have gave them to them, they were like David B stated, not a clue about what was going on around them. I thought I taught them ok, but....
   
   Mel
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
10. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    8/17/2012 5:08 PM

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said:

    Andy Jorgensen said:
    
    Unfortunately though, despite the opinion of you and the Superintendent in the article, it is an OSHA requirement, as specifically stated in the article. Of course our employees have the responsibility to also be aware of their surroundings, including golfers on the tee, and move out of the way. I fought it for years, but when our insurance carrier provided the OSHA requirement to me, I had to give in.

    
    
    The article says "[u">Although no regulation specific to the golf course has been created[/u"> OSHA nonetheless has told GCSAA on several occasions that golf course employees, if working in an area where their chances of being struck by a golf ball are increased, [u">should[/u"> wear hard hats."
    
    That does not mean it is an OSHA regulation. "Should" and "shall" have two different meanings and no regulation has been created.... yet.
    
    Entry into a hard hat zone would also include all other employees and I would think customers too, no?

    
    
    In our case, yes. When we put this policy in place, all employees on the course had to wear them. Starters, rangers, beverage cart girl, even the golf pro while playing golf. Customers were exempt since they inherent level of risk when playing golf and no one(an employer) is forcing them to assume the risk.

    
    
    
    
11. Ronald Conard

    

    4 posts
    
    8/18/2012 6:08 AM

    Andy Jorgensen said:
    In our case, yes. When we put this policy in place, all employees on the course had to wear them. Starters, rangers, beverage cart girl, even the golf pro while playing golf. Customers were exempt since they inherent level of risk when playing golf and no one(an employer) is forcing them to assume the risk.

    
    
    
    Good Lord. It's like the little green vests everyone wears if they are within a hundred yards of a street. If you are working on a sidewalk how is a vest going to save you from the car that jumped the curb and is rolling down the sidewalk? Plus most of the vests I see are so faded a person would be safer wearing a dirty t-shirt.
    
    What a messed up society we have become. No common sense, just feel good fluff.
    
    P.S. Can you post the picture of the golf pro playing in a hard hat?? That is some form of justice right there...

    
    
    
    
12. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    8/18/2012 6:08 AM

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said:

    Andy Jorgensen said:
    In our case, yes. When we put this policy in place, all employees on the course had to wear them. Starters, rangers, beverage cart girl, even the golf pro while playing golf. Customers were exempt since they inherent level of risk when playing golf and no one(an employer) is forcing them to assume the risk.

    
    
    
    Good Lord. It's like the little green vests everyone wears if they are within a hundred yards of a street. If you are working on a sidewalk how is a vest going to save you from the car that jumped the curb and is rolling down the sidewalk? Plus most of the vests I see are so faded a person would be safer wearing a dirty t-shirt.
    
    What a messed up society we have become. No common sense, just feel good fluff.
    
    P.S. Can you post the picture of the golf pro playing in a hard hat?? That is some form of justice right there...

    
    
    
    If Ron gets to see a picture of Andy's golf pro in a hard hat then I'd like to see a picture of Andy's beverage cart girl in her hard hat.

    
    
    
    
13. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    8/18/2012 7:08 AM

    Pete,
    
    Just her hard hat?

    
    
    
    
14. Osborne Cody

    
    8/18/2012 8:08 AM

    Thank you everybody for your input. Keith, I've taken your advice and decided not to fight this one too hard. There's a lot of changes I'm going to be pushing for in 2013, so I'll save my energy and efforts for the more important things. I still don't like it, but I told my boss there won't be a double standard on the golf course. If the marshalls, beverage cart girls, and range pickers don't wear hard hats, my crew workers won't be wearing them either. I guess we'll see how serious he is about this rule once he's forced to abide by his own policy.

    
    
    
    
15. Keith Fellenstein

    

    0 posts
    
    8/18/2012 8:08 AM

    Cody Osborne said: Thank you everybody for your input. Keith, I've taken your advice and decided not to fight this one too hard. There's a lot of changes I'm going to be pushing for in 2013, so I'll save my energy and efforts for the more important things. I still don't like it, but I told my boss there won't be a double standard on the golf course. If the marshalls, beverage cart girls, and range pickers don't wear hard hats, my crew workers won't be wearing them either. I guess we'll see how serious he is about this rule once he's forced to abide by his own policy.

    
    
    Sounds like a very reasonable approach. let us know how it works out for you.

    
    
    
    
16. Larry Allan

    

    0 posts
    
    8/18/2012 12:08 PM

    Andy Jorgensen said:

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said:

    Andy Jorgensen said:
    
    Unfortunately though, despite the opinion of you and the Superintendent in the article, it is an OSHA requirement, as specifically stated in the article. Of course our employees have the responsibility to also be aware of their surroundings, including golfers on the tee, and move out of the way. I fought it for years, but when our insurance carrier provided the OSHA requirement to me, I had to give in.

    
    
    The article says "[u">Although no regulation specific to the golf course has been created[/u"> OSHA nonetheless has told GCSAA on several occasions that golf course employees, if working in an area where their chances of being struck by a golf ball are increased, [u">should[/u"> wear hard hats."
    
    That does not mean it is an OSHA regulation. "Should" and "shall" have two different meanings and no regulation has been created.... yet.
    
    Entry into a hard hat zone would also include all other employees and I would think customers too, no?

    
    
    In our case, yes. When we put this policy in place, all employees on the course had to wear them. Starters, rangers, beverage cart girl, even the golf pro while playing golf. Customers were exempt since they inherent level of risk when playing golf and no one(an employer) is forcing them to assume the risk.

    
    
    Andy, Thats great. I would love to see a pro wearing a hard hat. That was actually what I threatened them with when they were pushing. It's like entering a construction site and being told to put on a hard hat. If you are on a site that requires safety wear, then "everybody" must put it on in the workplace. You might have a liability issue if a golfer is not wearing the prescribed safety equipment while on your "worksite" golf course

    
    
    
    
17. Keith Lamb

    

    3 posts
    
    8/18/2012 3:08 PM

    Funny Andy, I don't remember if she was wearing a hardhat when we were playing......hell, I couldn't tell you what color her eyes were. I do remember some other details though.