Programs and Technological Tools Promoting Youth Safety in Lawncare.

There are a large number of young persons employed in the green industry, particularly during the summer months, either as entrepreneurs or as company employees. They typically do this work with little or no training or work experience, and many have had extremely limited exposure to basic work hardware and tools.   Given the various tools and equipment they use, the physical environment they often work in where heat stress can be a serious concern, and the lack of training in these areas, these jobs can be performed under potentially hazardous work conditions for these young workers.  The objectives of this project were to 1) develop age-appropriate training programs for youth in the selection, handling and operation of various hand, power, and engine-driven tools/equipment, and 2) evaluate wireless sensor technologies designed to warn workers of potentially dangerous heat stress conditions and equipment run-overs.  Green industry representatives received pre- and post- surveys regarding what types of equipment and training materials/ methods would best serve a youth audience. A core-body-temperature/vehicle-distance sensor system was successfully demonstrated to monitor heat stress and object locations under laboratory conditions. The alerts from the sensor system, worn as a headset, will complement the lawncare safety training modules developed for youth worker trainers.   The modules include written materials and videos on tractor, mower, and powered handtool safety.  Pilot reviews are being conducted on current drafts of the modules and the URL’s are available on request.