Magazine - Golf club man died in mower accident

2 Sep 2009 by Rob Goodes

This is horrible news. Who was it, has a name been released?

Stanedge was one of my favorite little golf courses. Steve and Andy are both great blokes. My thoughts are with everyone involved in this difficult time.

Rob

How do greenkeepers earn a living!!! ;-)

3 Sep 2009 by Groundsmaiden

I don't think his name hasn't been released to the press as yet Rob. I agree - absolutely tragic. I extend sincere condolences to the man's colleagues at Stanedge GC and his friends and family.

4 Sep 2009 by Rob Goodes

John Hague has been named.

How do greenkeepers earn a living!!! ;-)

4 Sep 2009 by Sumomosr

Not a lot of info in the article:

"The mower was a sit-on type, the kind used for green-keeping.
The accident happened on the course."
People trapped 'under' mowers are invariably as a result of a roll-over incident.

Greens mowers fall into bunkers.
Tees mowers fall off raised tees and down banks.
Fairway mowers rarely roll.
Rough mowers fall down banks, gulleys etc...
Lakes/ponds can be another fatal attraction for mowers.

The provision of ROPS and wearing of seat-belts is supposed to minimise injury- but many operators fail to wear seat-belts and complacency/bravado is also prevalent among the staff of golf courses.

The course mowing plan is supposed to eliminate the chance of a mower working on a slope or too near an edge but operators wil often 'push' the limits for time saving reasons.

I'm not saying this was the case in this incident - just some observations from afar.

A sad situation indeed but possibly preventable.

GOGGA

4 Sep 2009 by Sumomosr

More info in the second article:

(The deceased) "- was using the ride-on mower to cut the grass on one of the course's greens.

Reports suggest that he was cutting a sloped area when the mower overturned, trapping him beneath it.''

Somewhat conflicting vis-a-vis sloped area on a green steep enough to cause a roll-over?

The HSE investigation will focus on mowing practices, operator training and PPE, ROPS, s/belts etc.

This article also mentions a second incident:

"The incident is the second such accident to happen in north Derbyshire in a month.

A 44-year-old Old Bolsover Town Council employee suffered serious injuries to his leg, side and back when the ride-on mower he was using slipped down an embankment, went over a wall and toppled into a road, crushing him, on Houghton Road, Bolsover, on August 5."

Such incidents are all preventable but usually occur under the so-called pressure of time.

GOGGA

5 Sep 2009 by jlawrence

I don't think I'd like to putt on a green steep enough to cause a roll over.

Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.