Riding Mowers Recalled Due to Crash Hazard
Federal Mower Regulation Costs City $3,000
Riding mowers with an engine greater than 20 horsepower used by municipal employees must have roll protection (seen left, with an added shade component), according to a federal OSHA statute.
Ognibene told the Jamestown Post- Journal. "The regulations are out- dated and don't apply to everything. Someone needs to look at the law and revise it."
The Exmark Quest 42-inch ZRT Riding Mower has been recalled due to crash hazard. The hazard comes from the bearings supporting the riding mower's deck that can fail and cause the deck to interfere with the operator's controls, resulting in a crash hazard.
This recall involves 2009-2010 Exmark Quest ZRT riding mowers with 42-inch mower decks, model number "QST- 20BE422" and serial numbers ranging from 790,000 through 860,652. The model and serial numbers are on a metal plate behind the seat. "Exmark" is printed on the side and "Quest" is printed on the front of the mowers. The mowers are red and gray. The mowers were sold at Exmark dealers nationwide from March 2009 through April 2010.
Contractors should stop using the recalled mowers imme- diately and contact an Exmark dealer to schedule a free re- pair and/or to check if the repair has already been made to the mower. (800) 667-5296; www.exmark.com/safety.aspx (Alert #12-732)
Taxpayers in Falconer, New York, have been forced to spend an additional $3,000 on riding mower protection to comply with OSHA regulations.
According to a federal OSHA
statute, riding mowers with an en- gine of more than 20 horsepower used by municipal employees must have rollover bars for safety. State officials enforcing the rule cited Fal- coner public works superintendent Sam Ognibene for two 26-horse- power mowers purchased in 2011. "The law is set up for larger trac- tors, not riding mowers used for mowing a park or what people use at home to mow their lawn,"
Ognibene traded in the two mow- ers for new tractors, opting for one 18-horsepower mower that does not require the rollover protection and one mower above 20-horsepower with the safety feature. Buying new tractors to be in compliance cost the town of about 2,500 residents an additional $3,000.
The public works supervisor said he originally bought the higher- horsepower mower because its speed helps municipal officials fulfill mowing duties in village parks and cemeteries. The new tractor's rollover protection also takes up more space, which makes storage difficult.
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