Landscape Management, October 2012

BROUGHT TO YOU BY APPLIED KNOWLEDGE TIPS FOR SMARTER SAFER CHEMICAL APPLICATIONS By Lauren Wilson FMC As an applicator some of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and others after working with pesticides are also some of the simplest Maintaining good personal hygiene helps ensure that family and friends wont come into contact with the powerful materials you use on the job Be sure to wash your hands and bathe after handling mixing or applying pesticides Wash and store your work clothes separately from your regular laundry Finally wear clean work clothes and gloves whenever youre likely to come into contact with pesticides Lauren Wilson is the Technical Service Representative for FMC Professional Solutions Scan this tag with the Microsoft Tag Reader app on your smartphone for additional tips on safe and responsible pesticide use from our latest Stewardship Brochure Need the mobile app Get it free at http gettag mobi Always read and follow label directions FMC and Applied Knowledge are trademarks of FMC Corporation 2012 FMC Corporation All rights reserved INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT THE GREEN INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE LLUSTRATIONS ISTOCK INTERNATIONAL INC CONSUMER CONFIDENCE RISES Consumer confdence rose in September according to The Conference Board The index which measures how Americans feel about the economy rose to 703 from 613 in August Confdence had declined in August The reading came in well above the 63 reading that economists surveyed by Briefng com expected CNN Money reports SAFE PARKING TIPS Parking lot incidents are typically low speed collisions but they can lead to expensive repair bills For feets parking lot crashes are some of the most common incidents Here are some tips for safe parking provided by the Network of Employers for Traffc Safety NETS which sponsors Drive Safely Work Week Oct 1 5 2012 The tips and tools downloadable on traffcsafety org are useful for safety training year round BACK IN NOT OUT Where legal and where parking spaces are not angled feet safety experts agree its safest to back into or pull through a parking space so your vehicle is facing out when its time to exit GET THE FULL PICTURE Having your mirrors properly adjusted for the best possible view is important for all driving maneuvers but its particularly so for safely backing into a parking space GET IT STRAIGHT Once youve backed in before exiting the vehicle turn the wheel to straighten your tires so they are ready for you to drive out safely APPROACH SLOWLY When pulling through to a parking space particularly if there is an SUV or van on either or both sides go slowly and be alert for other drivers coming from the opposite side that may not see you and could be approaching the same spot IF YOU MUST BACK OUT Complete a vehicle walk around to check for children and other objects before backing out Once all is clear exit promptly and cautiously as conditions may change Some feet programs require tapping the horn twice before backing to alert others Revenue forecast for the U S landscaping services industry in 2017 according to IBISWorld Industry revenue is expected to grow 42 percent over 2012 largely driven by an increase in per capita disposable income and a 201 percent increase in housing starts Revenue is forecast to rise about 4 percent per year for the next fve years 749 BILLION