Facilities Management

Grounds Maintenance Safety Rules

Section 1 - Groundsman

  1. Required
    1. Read General Safety Rules.
    2. Read Shop Rules - Pesticide Application - Section 6.4.
    3. View Proper Lifting PowerPoint presentation.
    4. View Proper Ladder safety PowerPoint presentation.
    5. Work shoes/boots.
    6. Read Machine Shop Safety Rules.
    7. Fork Lift Operations Training.
    8. Backhoe Operation Training.
  2. Recommended
    1. Standard First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
    2. Safety work shoes/boots.
    3. View Lock Out/Tag Out video.
    4. Read Machine Shop Safety Rules.
  3. Always Remember
    1. Each individual is responsible for his or her own personal safety and the general safety of his or her fellow workers. THINK SAFETY, ACT SAFELY!
    2. When in doubt about the use of personal protective equipment, check with your sub-foreman or foreman.
    3. Clean up your individual work area and/or equipment after completing a job or at the close of the work day.
    4. When lifting, follow the safe lifting procedures and protect your back.
    5. Power tools and equipment will not be used until operation and starting rules are understood.
    6. Follow instructions when using products, and do not mix different products unless it has been approved by the supervisor.
    7. Do not approach moving equipment unless the operator sees you.
    8. Equipment will not be parked behind operating vehicles.
    9. Do not start equipment in motion until all men and/or material are safely positioned. Riders will remain seated until the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
    10. Pointed or sharp tools will be carried or laid down with the blade or pointed side down or away from you.
    11. Goggles or face shields will be worn at all times when grinding or chipping.
    12. Lower boom, bucket, blade or broom and shut off engines when leaving equipment.
    13. Do not stand in front of tractor bucket while operator is loading.
    14. Motorized equipment, wheelbarrows, generators, rototillers, sod cutters, and tractors will not be carried in manhaul units with side seating when personnel are being carried. Hand tools are to be secured down firmly before manhauls proceed.
    15. Specialized safety training for operation of chain saws, manlift and other specialized equipment will be given to personnel who use this equipment by the safety officer.
    16. Prior to excavation efforts must be made to determine if there are any underground utilities in the area.
    17. The walls and faces of excavations and trenches over five feet, where workers may be exposed to danger, must be guarded by a shoring system, sloping of the ground, or other means.
    18. Appropriate trench boxes and/or shields may be used in lieu of shoring or sloping.
    19. Tools, equipment, and excavated material must be kept two feet from the lip of the trench.
    20. Daily inspections must be made of trenches and excavations.
    21. Ladders and steps must be located so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel in trenches 4 feet deep or more.
    22. Any runways and sidewalks must be kept free of debris and if undermined, must be adequately shored to prevent a cave-in.

Section 2 - Tree Surgeon

  1. Required
    1. Read General Safety Rules.
    2. Read Shop Safety Rules.
    3. Read Shop Rules - Pesticide Application - Section 6-4.
    4. View Proper Ladder safety PowerPoint presentation.
    5. Platform Lift Training.
    6. Work Shoes/Boots.
    7. Hazard Communication/Right to Know Training.
  2. Recommended
    1. Standard First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
    2. Safety shoes/boots.
    3. Read Vehicle Operation Safety Rules.
  3. Always Remember
    1. Wear soft soled composition shoes if climbing a tree is necessary. Otherwise safety shoes are recommended. Composition soles will provide better traction.
    2. Ladder should be placed against sturdy limbs or tree trunk. Wide based ladders will provide greater stability.
    3. When removing limbs several cuts will allow safer handling of each piece rather than removing limbs in large sections. Lowering large diameter limbs with a rope may be safer than letting them fall.
    4. It is advisable that tree trimmers work with at least one other person. The ground person can assist the trimmer with limb removal and provide other help as needed.
    5. All tools should be in proper working order and sharpened appropriately. Blade guards should always be in place when the tool is not in use.
    6. If electric pruners are used, several items need to be considered:
      1. The tool must be in proper working order.
      2. Ground plugs must always be used.
      3. Avoid using these tools if conditions are wet, or if the ground is wet.
      4. Use wooden or fiberglass ladders when using electric pruners.
    7. When climbing a tree, a safety belt should be used when making cuts. A trail rope can be used to raise and lower tools.
    8. Clothing should be of a strong material that resists tear, and loose fitting for comfort and mobility. Heavy work gloves protect the hands and eye protection is critical. A hard hat is beneficial when working with a long handled pruner. However, head covering may be easily lost if the trimmer has to climb the tree.
    9. Chain saws are potentially the most dangerous tool the trimmer will use. The following items must be closely adhered to:
      1. Be properly trained in the use of chain saws and read operating manuals.
      2. Make sure that the saw is in proper working order and is sharp.
      3. Store gasoline in proper containers and never smoke when filling the saw with fuel or when operating the saw. Never start the chain saw within ten feet of the filling area. If fuel is spilled on clothing, do not start or operate the saw until clothing has been changed.
      4. Always wear proper safety equipment including eye and ear protection when operating the chain saw.
      5. Keep the saw away from the body at all times.
      6. Avoid making the type of cuts that will pinch the saw or cause it to kick back.
      7. Be particularly careful when using the saw while in the tree or from a ladder.
      8. Never use a chain saw when over tired.
      9. Never operate a chain saw in an enclosed area. Exhaust fumes are dangerous.

Section 3 - Golf Course Superintendent

  1. Required
    1. Read General Safety Rules.
    2. Read Shop Safety Rules.
    3. Read Shop Rules - Pesticide Application
    4. View Proper Lifting safety PowerPoint presentation.
    5. Work shoes/boots.
  2. Recommended
    1. Standard First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
    2. View Lock Out/Tag Out video.
    3. Safety shoes/boots.
  3. Always Remember
    1. Each individual is responsible for his or her own personal safety and the general safety of his or her fellow workers. THINK SAFELY, ACT SAFELY!
    2. When in doubt about the use of personal protective equipment, check with your supervisor.
    3. Clean up your individual work area and/or equipment after completing a job or at the close of the work day.
    4. When lifting, follow the safe lifting procedures and protect your back.
    5. Power tools and equipment will not are understood. be used until operation and starting rules
    6. Do not approach moving equipment unless the operator sees you.
    7. Equipment will not be parked behind operating vehicles.
    8. Do not start equipment in motion until all men and/or material are safely positioned.
    9. Pointed or sharp tools will be carried or laid down with the blade pointed side down or away from you.
    10. Goggles or face shields will be worn at all times when grinding, chipping, or running string trimmer.
    11. Lower bucket, blade or broom and shut off engines when leaving equipment.
    12. Do not stand in front of tractor bucket while operator is loading.
    13. Motorized equipment, wheelbarrows, generators, rototillers, sod cutters and tractors will not be carried in man-hand units with side seating when personnel are being carried. Hand tools are to be secured down firmly before vehicles proceeds.
    14. Specialized safety training for operation of manlifts, chain saws, and other specialized equipment will be given to personnel who use this equipment by the safety officer.

Section 4 - Pesticide/Herbicide Application

  1. Equipment
    1. Boots: Rubber or neoprene overshoe or boot to protect spills from soaking shoes and feet. For best protection the boots to be used would be 10" to 12" high with pant legs outside, to prevent spills from going into boot. Any footwear with leaks are not to be used and must be replaced. A long rubber apron may be added protection.
    2. Gloves: Must be a waterproof type with no holes or inside linings. No part of glove is to have an absorbent cloth material. When handling pesticides or insecticides, gloves are to be neoprene or rubber.
    3. Clothes: Must be washable or disposable type. Should be laundered when soiled or contaminated with any pesticides.
    4. Goggles: Protective plastic goggles or face shield must be a type to prevent contamination and splash of eyes.
    5. Headgear: Washable and/or disposable type for all spray and non-absorbent exterior surfaces. Hard hat type for best protection.
    6. Inhalation Protection: A disposable mask or cartridge respirator to protect nose and mouth. This is a must for powder insecticides. ALL THE ITEMS ABOVE ARE SUPPLIED BY THE UNIVERSITY EXCEPT ITEM 3.
  2. Tank Fill Equipment
    1. For insecticides/pesticides:
      1. Goggles
      2. Head cover, preferably hard hat
      3. Boots or overshoes
      4. Gloves
      5. Mask/respirator as needed. A must for powders.
      6. Rubber apron
    2. Filling with non-toxic materials, only proper safety measures needed.
  3. Spraying or spreading
    1. With insecticides requires
      1. Rubber footwear
      2. Gloves
      3. Head Cover
      4. Mask/respirator as needed, as per conditions
    2. Without insecticides
      1. Proper safety measures as needed.
  4. Pesticide fill areas
    1. No smoking, drinking or eating
    2. Spills and puddles to be absorbed and cleaned up immediately with an absorbent material.
    3. Pesticide containers to be rinsed and washed out three (3) times and rinse material poured into fill tank. Rinsed container to be punctured so container is not reusable.
  5. Other pesticide safety measures
    1. Each employee must wash with soap, exposed skin areas after filling if any splash or contamination on skin. Also after spraying operation.
    2. Any leaky hoses or spray gun to be repaired immediately.
    3. All pesticide containers used in filling to be washed and rinsed immediately after filling completed, including gloves and footwear.
    4. Safety measures for clean up if needed after working on and/or adjusting spray equipment.
    5. No operator is to spray insecticides or pesticides if they have a severe case of dermatitis or sizeable cuts or scratches. Any small cuts must be covered and/or protected. Band-aid coverage not sufficient.
    6. Each employee must report for work with clean clothing. No pesticide contaminated clothes from the previous day.
    7. No operator can wear cloth-type absorbent shoes or bare feet.
  6. Sanitary Procedures: The following sanitary precautions will help reduce the possibility of pesticide exposure.
    1. Alter spray patterns to keep drift from hitting operator.
    2. Wash exposed skin areas as soon as possible after exposure to pesticide materials. A must before smoking or eating.
    3. Clothes should be washed separately from other clothing if exposed to pesticides. Use an alkaline base soap if possible.
    4. Avoid wiping eyes, face, nose or any skin surface while spraying pesticide materials.
    5. Remove gloves without touching outside surfaces after spraying and wash gloves off immediately.
    6. Remove gloves promptly and replace if material contaminates inside the glove area.
    7. Shower as soon as possible after completing day's work.
    8. Any major spill or soaked clothing of a pesticide material must be removed. Clothing should be changed as soon as possible. Extra clothing should be in the operator's locker. Exposed skin area must be washed before clean clothes are put on.
    9. Any dizziness, headache, or nausea noticed by an operator while performing any spray operation is to be reported to his foreman promptly. In case of severe illness, operator is to be taken to the medical center with a label or complete container with label of material being sprayed. Doctors will need label information for proper treatment.