UNISEEDER easy to
manoeuvre overseeding
games on the rugby pitch. And cricket averaging 130 games per season. As for improvements it is early days yet. There is plenty of potential to improve the facilities here at the BA Club in the coming years. I would like to address the
irrigation system and see if we could install a system for watering the tennis courts and, at the same time, put some significant watering outlets within the outfield to help water the cricket outfield and pitches. Within the grounds team
there is some very good experience that can be drawn on to carry out minor machinery repairs, with most of the major repairs being carried out by an outside workshop.
The main aim is to become self sufficient in all the jobs we do, gearing ourselves to do all the renovations and small construction works. We need to be flexible and
respond quickly to members needs, this summer we have had to accommodate six softball pitches amongst our cricket fixtures, no mean feat, especially when the timing of the competitions coincided with a sport change over. The club tends to buy equipment outright and recently invested, soon after my arrival, in a JD Progator, which has improved the ability to transport staff and resources about more efficiently. As part of the same package we invested in a Gambetti 600 litre demount sprayer and Propass twin spinner topdressing machine. Both items have proved very useful in firstly instigating a programme of applying wetting applications to the outfield areas and later on with top dressing the pitches and squares. All the staff are
multitasking which helps dramatically, they have all been trained to use most of the machinery at the club. The site also includes some formal gardens and hedges to maintain, along with some spring and summer bedding
displays. Another of my tasks was to
ensure the H&S policies of the club were met within the grounds department and, being a bit of a computer buff and reasonably proficient in working with and designing Microsoft Access databases, I have developed a database that helps me to complete, and store electronically, COSHH assessments, risk assessments, product details, spraying records, PPE issues and first aid stations, and management to name but a few.
The user can call up a form to complete a new pesticide application record and will be presented with a blank form. After filling in some preliminary details the databases powerful query building takes place. When the user chooses the product that he/she will apply, the database pulls data from the product tables and the COSHH assessment table to fill in relevant data for the user, such as product volume rates, formulation etc. and also relevant handling, application and clean up instructions etc. from the relevant COSHH assessment. This system will be a great asset for us as a grounds team but it does allow for a wider application. It is important we trial it and see how effective and important it will be for ensuring that the BA Club becomes a safe environment to work rest and play.
I am sure we will see some changes for the better in the coming months. It is good that companies like BA believe in the benefits and support a sports and social club for its employees. There is nothing better than a happy team of staff. It is hoped that other large companies rekindle their support in sports facilities for their employees that will, in the long term, benefit the wellbeing of their workforce. So here’s to a bright future for both me and my staff here at the BA Concorde Club.
GROUNDBREAKER
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BLECAVATOR
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www.blec.co.uk 18
www.pitchcare.com/re 45
Stand C28 BTME
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