Persons who utilise weed whackers to cut grass at the side of the road are being urged to exercise caution when doing so.
The call has come from President of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA), Sharmane Roland-Bowen, who complained that quite often when a person is using such grass trimmers, debris on the ground including pebbles or glass, can become “speeding missiles” and cause injury to vehicles or persons passing by.
“Some of these persons do stop their cutting when you are passing by, but there are still a number of them that do not, and that is dangerous because stones and other debris can be thrown towards vehicles and possibly, if your windows are open strike you in your eye or head, or even damage your vehicle. And the fact that many of these persons might be cutting grass on their own properties or might be operating an unregistered business, means that they are probably not insured,” she lamented.
That reality, she said, could result in a person whose property or body is injured as a result of such flying debris, not having any recourse. The BRSA president noted that should a person’s vehicle, for instance, be damaged as a result of such activity, the driver is likely to have two choices – bear the cost themselves or make a claim on their insurance, which could affect their future premiums. Either way, she lamented, the solution is not ideal. She is therefore urging persons when using such equipment to exercise the greatest caution for their safety and that of others.
“Especially those who use such equipment as part of their job, it is important that they are appropriately dressed in the proper PPE [personal protective equipment] gear as required under the health and safety legislation, including eye and foot protection for their own safety; and when working alongside the road to remember to be mindful of other road users,” Roland-Bowen stated. (JRT)
