Riding Mower Control Placement Guideline Development

Abstract

Accident investigations and subsequent hazard analysis studies of power mower accidents conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), indicated that the current version of the American National Standard for Turf Care Equipment - Power Lawn Mowers, Lawn and Garden Tractors, and Lawn Tractors - Safety Specifications (ANSI/OPEI B71.1-1986) might benefit from review and/or revision. The analyses indicated control activation, placement and/or operation may have contributed to a number of the accidents reviewed. Accordingly, special emphasis was to be focused on review of Part III: Ride-On Mowers, Lawn Tractors, and Lawn and Garden Tractors, paragraph 13., Controls. This paper describes the approach utilized in development of the inputs to update ANSI/OPEI B71.1-1986. Additionally, the paper describes a brief overview of the voluntary standard review/acceptance process.