“There is really nothing on offer, product-wise, that can beat good staff training”
Paul Woodham, Course Manager, Gay Hill Golf Club
mechanical fault or fault with the cutting units, which could affect the quality of cut.”
Leading machinery manufacturer John
Deere is also committed to raising the awareness of noise damage in the industry, and is one of several manufacturers who sponsor a European working group, under the direction of the European Garden Machinery Federation (EGMF). The group has been involved in
research projects looking into noise and sound quality, and the development of new technology to help produce quieter machinery.
The typical source of noise from grass
care machinery is engine exhaust, engine cooling fan, gears and hydraulic components. Reduction of noise at source is the most desirable control method, but often the most difficult. The noise levels on existing John
Deere machines are reduced in a number of ways, from the use of fibreglass hoods with aerodynamic styling, improved deck materials, electric fan drives and air intake silencers, to isolating components under sound dampening material and the elimination of certain parts that transmit noise in engines and transmissions.
On site vibration and noise testing of an air decompactor
definite move in the marketplace towards reducing vibration exposure levels that could harm the end user in the long run,” he says. “The benchmark figure of 2.5/m2 vibration output for an eight-hour work session has, for the most part, gone out the window, as having the lowest vibration output on machinery is a real selling point for manufacturers now, and one we are all aiming to achieve. We are all trying to make a product that has the lowest output and this holds true for noise levels too.”
Although the manufacturers have a common aim, sharing knowledge among them isn’t happening as yet. “No real collaboration between the various manufacturers exists,” says Henry, “and, even if it did, I’m not sure it would make much difference to the figures as product testing of all machines is highly susceptible to variations.” He explains further: “Some of the ride-on machines are tested on concrete, which produces a very different overall vibration level than on grass. Then there’s the consideration that the end user might change the settings on a machine for a faster cut or for cutting a different material, and this would also affect the vibration output. Therefore, it is very difficult for machine manufacturers to produce figures that will accurately match the situations they are used in.”
Henry Bredin
Henry Bredin, Product Marketing Manager - Commercial Equipment, for John Deere, sees a sustained effort underway to improve safety. “There is a
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The operator is key in all of this, Henry stresses: “Ultimately though, the operator is the person we want to make sure is happiest, as they will be the ones using the products and they will be the ones who will be most annoyed if they start having vibration-related problems.” Hand-arm vibration is of particular concern to some manufacturers, Henry goes on. “Luckily for us, we don’t make hand-held machines as I think those companies are worried by the potential damage that can be caused by hand-arm vibration, and the potential insurance matters that could be attached to it.” The public sector faces challenges, he maintains. “Overall, I feel the sports industry is in a better position than local
authorities, who seem to have a harder time of it when it comes to ensuring that they have the correct machines and ensuring staff know how to use the machines properly, as well as being aware of their dangers.” John Deere is working on a number of solutions to the problems of whole body vibration, he adds. “We have been using the Anti Vibration System in some of our products. One use is ISO mounted engines on the ride-on mowers, which basically means fixing a rubber block between the engine and the driver’s area to absorb some of the vibration.” Air seats in cabs are another advance on ride-ons. “These offer an alternative to having the traditional springs in the seat, instead employing a hydraulic seat filled with air to make the ride more comfortable and to help reduce the impact of vibration.” In summary, it is important for the industry to strike a balance between research and development into health and safety and actually making a profit. Having a sound safety plan needn’t cost the earth but does require time to research the machines used and their potential effects on the user. But money is usually the central focus in any business, so health and safety shouldn’t hinder the process. Many manufacturers spend a lot of money trying to make mowers quieter, with a large proportion of their R&D budgets going towards meeting vibration and noise legislation requirements, sometimes at the expense of more direct customer benefits, such as increased productivity or improved quality of cut for example. There has to be a limit to how much money can be spent on research and development overall. This is a similar situation to the introduction of new Tier 2, 3 and 4 engine technology, with new product development being increasingly driven by the need to satisfy emissions legislation rather than by any natural programme of innovation.
In part two of our Health & Safety feature, we will focus on pedestrian and hand-held machinery.
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