Safety On The Job: Six Steps To Adopting A Culture Of Safety
Turf Editors
OPEI: 12 Questions To Ask Before Powering Up The Snow Thrower
With Winter just around the corner and snow slowly creeping into forecasts across the U.S., it’s important for anyone who will have to tackle the flakes head on to make sure they’re prepared. Winter storms can be unpredictable and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) encourages lawn and landscape business owners to prepare in advance before bad weather hits. Here are OPEI’s 12 questions to ask before operating a snow thrower: Have you read your owner’s manual? Know safe handling procedures and how to operate the controls of your machine. If the manual cannot be found, look it up online and store a copy on the computer. Have you checked your equipment? Equipment should be powered off when checking it. Adjust any cables and check the auger. If you forgot to drain the fuel before storing equipment last year, empty the gas tank. Have you purchased the right fuel? Be sure to use the fuel recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Fuel that is more than 30 days old can phase separate and cause operating problems. Buy gasoline ahead of a storm. For more information see LookBeforeYouPump.com. Is gasoline used safely? Never add fuel to a running or hot engine. Store gasoline in a fuel container and label with date purchased and ethanol content. Make sure fuel is stored safely and out of reach of children. Are batteries charged (for battery-powered equipment)? Make sure batteries are fully charged before a storm, in case electricity goes out. Is the yard clear of obstructions? Snow can hide objects. Doormats, hoses, balls, toys, ...
10 Generator Safety Tips from OPEI
If your electricity goes out due to snow and ice, a generator can keep power flowing to your business. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, and golf cars, reminds business owners to keep safety in mind when using generators this Winter. Tips include: Take stock of your generator. Make sure equipment is in good working order before starting and using it. Do this before a storm hits. Review the directions. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Review the owner’s manuals (look manuals up online if you cannot find them) so equipment is operated safely. Install a battery operated carbon monoxide detector. This alarm will sound if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter the building. Have the right fuel on hand. Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer to protect this important investment. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in outdoor power equipment. (For more information on proper fueling for outdoor power equipment click here.). It’s best to use fresh fuel, but if you are using fuel that has been sitting in a gas can for more than 30 days, add fuel stabilizer to it. Store gas only in an approved container and away from heat sources. Ensure portable generators have plenty of ventilation. Generators should NEVER be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a building or a garage, ...
Equip Expo: Exhibit Space Completely Sells Out
Exhibit space at Equip Exposition (the former GIE+EXPO trade show) and co-located with Hardscape North America is fully sold out, including 675,000 square feet of indoor space and 30 acres in the Outdoor Demo Area. The Expo will feature over 1,000 exhibitors and will be held October 18-21 in Louisville, KY, at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). “This is a first for Expo: Every inch of exhibit space inside the KEC and outside in the newly expanded 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard has been reserved,” said Kris Kiser, president & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns Equip Exposition. Management is currently waitlisting prospective exhibitors for 2022. Combining both indoor and outdoor exhibition space gives Equip Expo attendees the opportunity to “test before they invest” in the newest outdoor power equipment and ask manufacturers questions face-to-face. Kioti Tractor is a multi-year exhibitor at Equip Expo. “Each year, KIOTI utilizes the indoor and outdoor exhibit space to give attendees an inside look at new products or prototypes and showcase some of the company’s most popular product lines. This year, a small selection of compact tractors, K9 UTV’s, and the full line up of ZTR’s will be featured,” according to a company rep. KIOTI “believes that there is no better way to familiarize attendees with the equipment than offering the ‘ride and drive’ experience.” When asked what he hopes attendees gain from their time at Equip Expo, Kiser was focused on providing a full experience to individuals including educational sessions, ...
Tips For First-Time Equip Attendees
Be aware: The registration price doubles this Friday! How does a first-time attendee find their bearings at Equip Exposition, the sixth largest trade show in the U.S.? The expo, being held October 18- 21, 2022, is offering tips on how to navigate the event, which boasts a million square feet of exhibit space, including a 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard showcasing the newest outdoor power equipment in the industry at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). “First, with a show this size, be sure to wear comfortable shoes,” says Kris Kiser, president & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns Equip Exposition. “Also, Expo is open rain or shine. Check the weather report so you can dress appropriately.” Other insider tips include:• Register now before the price doubles this Friday, September 9. Lock in your early-bird ticket for only $20. Prices double to $40 at midnight September 9, and double again after October 14 to $80. • Reserve your hotel room and make travel plans now. Louisville’s 17,000 hotel rooms book up as October approaches. Some hotels are on a complimentary shuttle route that will get you to the show quickly. Book your hotel now and you might even win a prize. • Download the official Equip Exposition app sponsored by Husqvarna. The app is the best way to plan your schedule. Navigate and mark the exhibits you want to see and education sessions to attend. • Add education and training to your registration. Landscapers can attend sessions on: ...
GIE+EXPO To Become Equip Exposition In 2022
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announces that GIE+EXPO will rebrand and relaunch in 2022 as Equip Exposition, evolving the industry’s largest tradeshow. Equip will be held October 19-21 in Louisville, KY. Concurrent with the launch of Equip Exposition, the OPEI Board of Directors and President Kris Kiser, opened new show offices on Main Street in Louisville. The ribbon-cutting event was attended by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Michael Berry, and other invited guests. “We’re excited to announce this evolution of our industry-leading tradeshow,” said Kris Kiser, President of OPEI. “The opening of our new office shows the investment our industry has in the event and in its long-standing location of Louisville. With OPEI bringing the management of the show wholly under the association’s umbrella, it was time to re-envision the event while honoring its long history.” Equip Exposition will bring on veteran show management staff and Karen Williams, longtime head of Louisville Tourism, as Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Development. Plans underway to expand education opportunities and enhance the attendee and exhibitor experience include: Trace Adkins will headline the concert series David Feherty will give the opening keynote A series of educational workshops will be hosted The TurfMutt Foundation will launch the first-ever Mulligan’s 5K and Fun Run in downtown Louisville “Equip Exposition is where the landscape changes, and is the place for landscape contractors, outdoor power equipment dealers, distributors, and manufacturers to connect, learn, and grow,” Kiser said. “… ...
