Laws Governing Professional Lawn Maintenance Businesses

[djdicetn]

You guys need to learn to fight nice. I mean Really it's a hypothetical question.

Sounds like it's time for a group hug and to agree to sometimes not agree:0)

 

[Carscw]

Sounds like it's time for a group hug and to agree to sometimes not agree:0)

I been really trying to be nice to every one but you need to stop the silly talk about a group hug. LOL.
And don't know why old goat is mad at me.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[djdicetn]

I been really trying to be nice to every one but you need to stop the silly talk about a group hug. LOL.
And don't know why old goat is mad at me.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Yeah, just a way of saying we need to be respectful of one another's views/opinions. It's toooooo easy when on a computer and not talking face-to-face with someone to disregard their humanity and not stay civil when we disagree.

P..S.
I'm sure user Old Goat will get over it.......I did:0)

 

[exotion]

Sounds like it's time for a group hug and to agree to sometimes not agree:0)

Really first off this is the internet good thing you all are fighting accomplishing nothing but getting your selves angry and nothing really to take out the anger out. Don't know about you but getting angry on the internet and spewing off a bunch of angry words doesn't really make me feel better.

Secondly the manufacture needs to protect themselves from lawsuits because people are stupid. And they don't deserve to get sued over other peoples stupidity.

Thirdly if you are to slow in your brain and decide to not ready the recommendations and instructions in the manual you deserve to roll over in a swell.

Fourth a new law would be impossible to uphold even if they have a old man in a lawn police car handing out tickets you could fight it and more than likely win. So good for them wasting tax payers money.

Fifth how many thousands of ztr mowers have been sold without rops they cannot force you to buy a new one they would only stop selling them without rops if you own one without they can't do anything about it grandfather clause.

 

[Old Goat]

You guys need to learn to fight nice. I mean Really it's a hypothetical question.

Excuse me, I was nice.

 

[djdicetn]

Excuse me, I was nice.

Old Goat,
Well I'm DEFINITELY not going to suggest that you & user Carscw kiss & make up....the analogy of a group hug was bad enough:0) I really couldn't tell who said what that was intentionally offensive(except maybe user American Turf's rebuttal:0)

 

[Mad Mackie]

The thing with ROPS on many different machines to include some mowers and tractors is that it is an OSHA requirement. What determines the point where ROPS is not required is something that I will research. There are other federal agencies also involved with establishing and mandating that personal safety equipment be installed on certain types of machinery. Each of us have our own feelings regarding the installation of or lack of safety equipment on mowers and tractors and certainly we are not all in agreement on this topic.
Initially all ROPS bars installed on ZTRs were not foldable however this regulation was changed allowing a foldable ROPS.
My 2008 Scag Tiger Cub has a non foldable ROPS and I do not plan to remove it as it isn't much higher than the collection system and I have never used the seat belt, my choice. My new Hustler X-ONE has a folding ROPS and it stays folded.
If you have a machine with a ROPS and you don't like it then you have the option of removing it, your choice.
If you have a machine that doesn't have a ROPS bar and you would prefer that it had one, then ask your local dealer if a ROPS is available for your machine and if not then you will need to have a ROPS fabricated and installed. Bear in mind that the ROPS usually requires the use of a particular style seat with a seat belt. Not every metal fabricating company will make an item of this nature however, as they then become a manufacturer with liability hung on them.
Those of you that have a commercial business and employees that operate the company owned machines, I strongly recommend that the required safety equipment remain on the machines, train and encourage the employees to use the equipment properly. Equipment manufacturers, dealers and others know beyond a doubt what happens when an accident happens and the lawyers get involved, enough said on this subject!!!!!
Exercising and practicing common sense while operating any machine is highly recommended. Reading and understanding the operators manual is also highly recommended. Most if not all ZTR operators manuals has specific cautions about the operation of ZTRs, with emphasis regarding operation on hills.
The federal safety regulations are here to stay whether we like it or not!!!! And then the emissions requirements!!!!
Cutting grass sure ain't what it used to be, nor is anything else for that matter!!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

 

[X-man]

Hey, remember. I made a poll on this subject.

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/polls/15355-should-ztr-operators-ticketed-if-rops-bar-removed.html

 

[jekjr]

The problem is we have thousands of laws too many already. Instead of having new laws we need to get government's nose out of everybody's business. If I feel safe running my zero turn on a steep hillside and have no problem doing it why should you have somebody make a law to stop it? I cut hillsides regularly that are very steep as do numerous others that do what we do for a living. I have had my 222 on hills that it literally slid sideways. I have cut places that you ease it upwards and then ease it backwards to the bottom and ease it upwards again.

I have found one thing on the Kubota 222 that is a hazard that has to be worked around.

The fuel tank is on the left. Therefore the left rear wheel has far more traction than the right one. On a steep incline going down hill it is virtually impossible to turn right if you are not going very slow. The reason being when you pull backwards on the lever to turn right the right wheel will start to slide and the left one will still have traction. Then the natural instinct is to push the left lever forward and pull the right lever backward to make it turn sharper. When you do it will get very fast in a straight line.

The first time mine ever did this it was a definite near miss. I wound up running off a bank into a parking lot. Had it been a highway instead of a parking lot it could have been deadly.

I learned that when you put this mower on this type situation you have to run at a very slow speed and keep the hydra stats working so that the wheels work slow and not let your instincts to turn sharper take over.

 

[djdicetn]

The thing with ROPS on many different machines to include some mowers and tractors is that it is an OSHA requirement. What determines the point where ROPS is not required is something that I will research. There are other federal agencies also involved with establishing and mandating that personal safety equipment be installed on certain types of machinery. Each of us have our own feelings regarding the installation of or lack of safety equipment on mowers and tractors and certainly we are not all in agreement on this topic.
Initially all ROPS bars installed on ZTRs were not foldable however this regulation was changed allowing a foldable ROPS.
My 2008 Scag Tiger Cub has a non foldable ROPS and I do not plan to remove it as it isn't much higher than the collection system and I have never used the seat belt, my choice. My new Hustler X-ONE has a folding ROPS and it stays folded.
If you have a machine with a ROPS and you don't like it then you have the option of removing it, your choice.
If you have a machine that doesn't have a ROPS bar and you would prefer that it had one, then ask your local dealer if a ROPS is available for your machine and if not then you will need to have a ROPS fabricated and installed. Bear in mind that the ROPS usually requires the use of a particular style seat with a seat belt. Not every metal fabricating company will make an item of this nature however, as they then become a manufacturer with liability hung on them.
Those of you that have a commercial business and employees that operate the company owned machines, I strongly recommend that the required safety equipment remain on the machines, train and encourage the employees to use the equipment properly. Equipment manufacturers, dealers and others know beyond a doubt what happens when an accident happens and the lawyers get involved, enough said on this subject!!!!!
Exercising and practicing common sense while operating any machine is highly recommended. Reading and understanding the operators manual is also highly recommended. Most if not all ZTR operators manuals has specific cautions about the operation of ZTRs, with emphasis regarding operation on hills.
The federal safety regulations are here to stay whether we like it or not!!!! And then the emissions requirements!!!!
Cutting grass sure ain't what it used to be, nor is anything else for that matter!!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Mad Mackie,
Thank you....thank you....thank you!!!!! Now we're getting somewher on this subject!!! The kind of detailed information that you provided about exactly how ROPS were mandated by OSHA for certain tractors, ZTR's etc. is exactly what I was hoping to learn more about as well as pros/cons of enforcement of regulations. So does OSHA have any authority to "enforce" usage by operators? Or do they just make certain that manufacturers include them on mowers that require them? What determines that a "lawn tractor" doesn't require one whereas a larger John Deere tractor(with belly mowing deck) does? That was very intersting that foldable ROPS came "later", with I assume revision of the OSHA regulations. My real interest in starting this thread was to get feedback about the "liability" and if enforcement of regulatory "laws" could potentially "protect" commercial operators firstly from unnecessarily losing their lives and also absolve a homeowner from any liability(as well as the dealer of manufacturer). Can you elaborate a little more on your statement "Equipment manufacturers, dealers and others know beyond a doubt what happens when an accident happens and the lawyers get involved, enough said on this subject!!!!!"???? Personally, I don't have a clue what does or can happen in a case like the operator here in TN flipped the JD ZTR and was killed. Exactly who could his widow sue based upon if there were a ROPS on that John Deere he might not have been killed????? That's what I am after as well as how could the 30-50 mowing fatalities/year be reduced to 3-5???