Council Spotlight: Rotary Cutter

Association members have asked to learn more about the work of committees and councils. This submission from Jeff Welsch, chairman of the Rotary Cutter Council, is part of that information-sharing process.

The Association’s Rotary Cutter Council includes manufacturers of rotary cutters and suppliers of rotary cutter components. The council meets every year at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville and the Association’s Fall Convention.

The primary focus of the council is to increase awareness of rotary cutter safety. We do this by discussing national and international safety standards as well as programs related to safety. While the focus is on all safety standards related to rotary cutters, including driveline guarding, lighting and marking, jacks, etc., the council also discusses standards relating to flail mowers, disc mowers and turf equipment.

Several council members recently participated in developing ISO 4254-13, which is an international safety standard for rotary cutters adopted in 2012. The council is discussing revisions and clarifications to the standard.

Another method of raising awareness about rotary cutter safety is a safety ad. With the ad, we reach out to new operators of rotary cutters to make them aware of the hazards involved with operating rotary cutters. The council creates the ad, chooses the magazine or publication, and shares the cost among Association companies that agree to sponsor the ad.

Participation in the Rotary Cutter Council provides the opportunity to meet colleagues and learn methods for improving rotary cutter safety. S