TERRE HAUTE —
Vigo County Park officials have completed measures to improve safety for park workers mowing around a pond at Prairie Creek Park as well as operating other park equipment on the heels of a safety order from the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The state agency, part of the Indiana Department of Labor, completed an investigation of the park department in September after a fatal mowing accident in August at Prairie Creek Park. The agency issued its findings to the county park department in mid-November.
The state agency, in a Nov. 10 letter, notified the park department it had 15 working days, excluding holidays and weekends, to provide evidence of corrective action. Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department, said the park department took corrective measures in late September.
The park department submitted the corrective action documentation Tuesday to IOSHA.
The state had issued a $2,500 fine on the park department, but because it is a public sector entity, IOSHA deferred the penalty pending the receipt and review of corrective action.
“It seems silly to apply punitive measures when it involves tax dollars which are moving from one agency to another. The penalties are applied on a case-by-case basis. It is appropriate in this case” to defer the penalty, said Bob Dittmer, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Labor/IOSHA.
IOSHA cited inadequate operator equipment training during an Aug. 15 accident that caused the drowning of park employee Earl Slavens, 60, a maintenance specialist, who was pinned under a riding mower after it was flipped over by another park utility tractor.
IOSHA ordered the park department to conduct a survey of ponds in the park system and not use commercial riding mowers on surfaces with longitudinal slopes of 30 degrees or greater or lateral slopes of 20 degrees or greater. The edge of the pond where the accident occurred has a longitudinal slope of 36 degrees, according to the state report.
Improper towing techniques were used by a park employee on the utility tractor, the report states. The employee was a part-time worker.
“The operator of the tractor lifted the attachment which caused both the mower and the tractor to roll over. The mower operator was trapped beneath the mower in approximately 4 feet of water,” the report states.
The state agency said park employees should “follow manufacturers guidelines on approved hitch points for both the tractor and mower and to utilize proper towing techniques.”
To meet the state order, Ruble implemented a unique solution to mark boundaries around the Prairie Creek Park pond.
“I wanted something that was not really obvious, yet it will let our people know not to go below that, and people could walk around without any fear of getting hurt,” Ruble said.
Ruble’s solution was to drill post holes, place a fabric weed barrier used on park playgrounds into the holes, and fill the holes with white rock flume, or “ag dust.” The rock flume packs like concrete, Ruble said.
The ground-level circular markers, which contain white limestone, are clearly visible around the lake, marking a point about 21⁄2 to 3 feet from the water’s edge. Riding mowers are not permitted past the markers.
Walking mowers, mowing parallel to the pond, or weed eaters will be used to trim closer around the pond, Ruble said.
The markers range from 10 to 20 feet apart.
Some of the markers can be seen near a weeping willow tree, planted in memory of Slavens, in the spot at the Prairie Creek pond where the accident happened.
The markers also will be used at Fowler Park, while Hawthorn Park has limited areas where mowing is done. A Vigo County Highway Department sidearm mower is used to trim steep banks at that park.
As a second safety measure, the park department has purchased and installed lock boxes for Prairie Creek, Hawthorn and Fowler parks, where keys to large mowers and tractors are kept, Ruble said. Only full-time employees will have access to the keys, as full-time employees undergo more extensive training in the use and safety of that equipment, Ruble said.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@ tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Keeping employees safe: Keith Ruble, superintendent of Vigo County Parks and Recreation, stands Tuesday near one of the new markers put in place to help department employees when they mow near the pond at Prairie Creek Park.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Safety measures: Keith Ruble, superintendent of Vigo County Parks and Recreation, talks Tuesday about the new markers put in place to help department employees when they mow near the pond at Prairie Creek Park.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza In memory: A weeping willow tree has been planted near the pond at Prairie Creek Park in memory of Earl Slavens who was killed in an accident in August.
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